Three crew members were injured when a medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday night shortly after taking off from the UC Davis Medical Center.Those on board the REACH Air Medical Services H130 included a pilot, nurse and paramedic, and all three were critically injured. No patient was on board. The crash was reported just after 7 p.m. on eastbound Highway 50 just east of Stockton Boulevard. The freeway was closed for hours before crews reopened the roads around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.On Wednesday morning, REACH identified all three crew members and gave an update on their condition. They are: Pilot Chad Millward, who is in critical yet stable conditionParamedic Margaret “DeDe” Davis, who is in critical yet stable conditionNurse Susan “Suzie” Smith, who is in an unstable critical conditionKCRA 3 is working to learn more about each crew member. Below is what we know so far.Chad MillwardPrior to piloting for REACH, Millward was a former officer with the California Highway Patrol. The agency said in a statement that “Millward demonstrated courage and selflessness.”CHP said Millward earned the Governor’s Public Safety Medal of Valor for his life-saving actions during the 2017 Atlas Fire, which led to six deaths and burned more than 51,000 acres in Napa and Solano counties. According to California’s Medal of Valor Awards, Millward was part of a rescue operation involving multiple flights in the dark that involved smoke, ash and embers from the Atlas Fire. He is credited with saving 15 lives.Millward was with CHP for 28 years.”His service and commitment to protecting others serve as a testament to the highest ideals of this Department,” CHP said in its statement. “We are profoundly grateful to the first responders and good Samaritans who rushed to render aid immediately following the crash. Their quick and compassionate actions embody the very best of our community.”Susan SmithFriends of Smith on Tuesday first identified her and said she is a Redding resident.One of Smith’s friends said the nurse would travel to Nicaragua every year to fix cleft palates and described her as the most giving person she’s ever known.”She’s just one of those exceptional people who’s out there using her, you know, her intelligence in that to help people. But just that type of person who will go over there on her own expense and help those people,” said Mary Beaver, a longtime friend of Smith.Her pastor, Travis Osborne, said Smith remains in critical condition as of Tuesday evening. Osborne told KCRA that she’s being treated for numerous injuries, including brain swelling.”We are just praying for a miracle. We know God hears our prayers, and it’s dire. You know, she’s in a dire situation,” said Osborne. Margaret “DeDe” Davis A family member of Davis said on Wednesday that the paramedic was receiving “incredible” care at U.C. Davis Medical Center as she recovered from injuries sustained in the crash. He said she was recovering well and in good spirits, deferring to REACH for further comment.Bystanders rushing in to helpFollowing the crash, a group of around 15 witnesses and bystanders ran to offer assistance, even lifting the helicopter up to free someone who was trapped. Some even acknowledged to KCRA 3 that they didn’t know if the crashed aircraft would explode. Smith’s friends shared gratitude for the numerous bystanders who rushed into the dangerous crash scene to help. -Reporters Andres Valle and Lee Anne Denyer contributed to this report.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
Three crew members were injured when a medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday night shortly after taking off from the UC Davis Medical Center.
Those on board the REACH Air Medical Services H130 included a pilot, nurse and paramedic, and all three were critically injured. No patient was on board.
The crash was reported just after 7 p.m. on eastbound Highway 50 just east of Stockton Boulevard. The freeway was closed for hours before crews reopened the roads around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, REACH identified all three crew members and gave an update on their condition. They are:
Pilot Chad Millward, who is in critical yet stable conditionParamedic Margaret “DeDe” Davis, who is in critical yet stable conditionNurse Susan “Suzie” Smith, who is in an unstable critical condition
KCRA 3 is working to learn more about each crew member. Below is what we know so far.
Chad Millward
California Medal of Valor
Prior to piloting for REACH, Millward was a former officer with the California Highway Patrol. The agency said in a statement that “Millward demonstrated courage and selflessness.”
CHP said Millward earned the Governor’s Public Safety Medal of Valor for his life-saving actions during the 2017 Atlas Fire, which led to six deaths and burned more than 51,000 acres in Napa and Solano counties. According to California’s Medal of Valor Awards, Millward was part of a rescue operation involving multiple flights in the dark that involved smoke, ash and embers from the Atlas Fire. He is credited with saving 15 lives.
Millward was with CHP for 28 years.
“His service and commitment to protecting others serve as a testament to the highest ideals of this Department,” CHP said in its statement. “We are profoundly grateful to the first responders and good Samaritans who rushed to render aid immediately following the crash. Their quick and compassionate actions embody the very best of our community.”
Susan Smith
Friends of Smith on Tuesday first identified her and said she is a Redding resident.
One of Smith’s friends said the nurse would travel to Nicaragua every year to fix cleft palates and described her as the most giving person she’s ever known.
“She’s just one of those exceptional people who’s out there using her, you know, her intelligence in that to help people. But just that type of person who will go over there on her own expense and help those people,” said Mary Beaver, a longtime friend of Smith.
Her pastor, Travis Osborne, said Smith remains in critical condition as of Tuesday evening. Osborne told KCRA that she’s being treated for numerous injuries, including brain swelling.
“We are just praying for a miracle. We know God hears our prayers, and it’s dire. You know, she’s in a dire situation,” said Osborne.
Margaret “DeDe” Davis
A family member of Davis said on Wednesday that the paramedic was receiving “incredible” care at U.C. Davis Medical Center as she recovered from injuries sustained in the crash. He said she was recovering well and in good spirits, deferring to REACH for further comment.
Bystanders rushing in to help
Following the crash, a group of around 15 witnesses and bystanders ran to offer assistance, even lifting the helicopter up to free someone who was trapped. Some even acknowledged to KCRA 3 that they didn’t know if the crashed aircraft would explode.
Smith’s friends shared gratitude for the numerous bystanders who rushed into the dangerous crash scene to help.
-Reporters Andres Valle and Lee Anne Denyer contributed to this report.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel