Medevac crash Washington, DC (Now incl NTSB Prelim)
Helicopter Crashes Near Wash. Hospital Center
May 30th - 5:42pm
WASHINGTON - A medical helicopter crashed Tuesday on its way to Washington Hospital Center with four people on board, a Federal Aviation Administration official said.
Rescue crews had to free the pilot from the wreckage, and three passengers from the MedStar helicopter also were being treated for serious injuries, officials said. It wasn't immediately clear what caused the crash less than a mile from the hospital. It was a sunny day.
It did not appear the helicopter struck any buildings or injured anyone on the ground, Peters said.
The chopper crashed on a hilly area of a golf course at the U.S. Soldiers and Airmens Home in the 3700 block of North Capitol Street in northwest Washington.
One witness said he saw the helicopter flying low and heard it hit a tree about 500 yards from the golf course clubhouse.
"It was lumbering," said Billy Bartlett, who works at the golf course. "You knew something wasn't right."
Bartlett said the helicopter went down on the 8th hole to the right of the fairway.
There were golfers on the course at the time. Everyone was sent away, and the course was closed.
The helicopter had three medical technicians on board, including the pilot, and one patient, said District of Columbia fire department spokesman Alan Etter. One person was unconscious when rescuers arrived, he said.
"We do know that this helicopter was approaching MedStar to deliver a patient," Etter said.
The crash was reported just after 4:30 p.m. [EST], and the helicopter did not appear to catch fire, Etter said.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)