MEMPHIS, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- Three people were killed Tuesday in the crash of a medical helicopter in a thickly wood area in Somerville, Tenn., near Memphis, officials said.
The helicopter was on its way from Memphis to pick up a patient in Bolivar when it crashed about 50 miles from Memphis. The crash victims were identified as nurse Carrie Barlow, 43, respiratory therapist Denise Adams, 43, and pilot Charles Smith, 47, The (Memphis) Commercial Appeal reported.
The helicopter, a Eurocopter AS350B3 owned by Aviation Wing, a Memphis-based non-profit company specializing in emergency airlift service and transfer of patients between hospitals, disintegrated on impact, officials said. The cause of the crash is unknown.
Those killed in the crash were part of Hospital Wing's "Pedi-Flite Team." Pediatric emergency physician Dr. Jay Pershad called them "a dedicated group of professionals. We would tell the families how proud we are of their loved ones."
