Updated, 3:30 pm:
A LEE COUNTY EMS HELICOPTER CRASH-LANDED SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT this morning in Lee County, Florida. The air ambulance was heading to Upper Captiva Island (near Fort Myers) when it crashed into the Intra-Coastal Waterway while responding to a medical emergency call for a head injury. No patients were on board at the time of the crash.
An EMS helicopter from Hendry County was dispatched to transport the three crew members to the Lee Memorial Hospital where early reports say that all three are in good condition.
The Fort Myers News-Press is reporting:
The Medstar helicopter was submerged in 6 feet of water when it landed in the intercoastal waterway and the three crew members were able to successfully escape, said Lee County Medstar spokeswoman Rick O’Neal.
News-Press photo by John Emmett
“It’s a credit to the training they received from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office,” O’Neal said. “I’m convinced that training saved their lives.”
O’Neal said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Authorities would like to remove the aircraft from the water. O’Neal said she’s not sure if the helicopter will be salvageable since it was in salt water.
The crew consisted of pilot Diana Tackett and medics Jason Ausman and Dave Duncan. The crew members were taken to a hospital but discharged hours ago, O’Neal said.
O’Neal said Tackett had more than 10 years of experience flying Medstar helicopters.
The News-Press has a 9-image photo gallery HERE.
