3 Dead After Medical Helicopter Crash in Eastern Arkansas

DEWITT, Ark. (AP) — A pilot and two medical personnel were killed when a medical helicopter that was flying to a hospital in eastern Arkansas crashed in a rural area Sunday night. No patients were on board at the time. The cause of the crash is not yet known but federal agencies are investigating. Arkansas County Sheriff Todd Wright said a witness saw the helicopter spiral out of the sky about 7:55 p.m. Sunday, disturbing thousands of geese to the point that "they were louder than she had ever heard before." The helicopter crashed on a levee adjacent to Hampton Reservoir near Lodge Corner in Arkansas County, 52 miles (84 kilometers) southeast of Little Rock. Wright said Monday that the helicopter's tail section was the only portion of the aircraft that did not burn. Pafford Air One identified the victims as 46-year-old pilot Michael Bollen of Hot Springs; 61-year-old flight nurse James Lawson Spruiell of Sulligent, Alabama; and 26-year-old flight paramedic John Auld III, who went by the nickname Trey, of Shreveport, Louisiana. Pafford Air One says the helicopter had been flying from Pine Bluff to a hospital in Helena-West Helena. "We are all devastated and profoundly saddened by the tragic loss of these valued EMS colleagues and friends. We will continue to try and comfort the crew's families as well as everyone in our employ," said Pafford Air One Director Dustin Ross. Spruiell and Auld worked for Pafford Air One, which provides emergency transport in A...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: News Operations Source Type: news