REACH Air Medical Helicopter Crashes on Highway 50

A REACH Air Medical Services helicopter experienced an in‑air emergency and crashed onto eastbound U.S. Highway 50 in Sacramento just after 7 p.m., coming down in the center of the busy highway without striking other vehicles. Flight-tracking data reported the aircraft as an Airbus H130 that had departed the roof of UC Davis Medical Center minutes earlier. The aircraft carried three crew members — a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic — with no patient aboard; all three were critically injured and transported to area hospitals. One crew member was pinned under the wreckage and about 15 bystanders together with firefighters lifted part of the helicopter to free her before ambulances arrived. Authorities including the California Highway Patrol and Sacramento Fire Department have opened an investigation, eastbound lanes were shut down causing major traffic backups, and REACH said it is gathering details and will provide updates.