Pilot, Two Nurses Killed In Illinois Medical Copter Crash
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Dec 11, 2012 5:00PM
A medical helicopter from Rockford crashed while enroute to pick up a patient on Monday night, killing the pilot and two nurses on board.
The copter went down in a field near Rochelle, while traveling from Rockford Memorial Hospital to Mendota Community Hospital. The victims were identified as pilot Andy Olesen and nurses Jim Dillow and Karen Hollis.
The Lee County Sheriff told the Chicago Tribune that witnesses "said something didn't sound right, it was flying low." The hospital said it lost contact with the helicopter about 8:15 p.m.
“I thought it didn’t sound right. It sounded like it was going to hit the house,’’ said Michael Bernardin, a Viola Township highway commissioner who lives near U.S. Route 30 and Illlinois Route 251. “I looked out the window and I saw this red light. . .nose-dive in the field out here. It made a hell of a thud.’’
Authorities said it doesn't appear the helicopter hit any power lines or other structures. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.