KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - Loved Ones Remember Medical Crew Killed in Copter Crash
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Associates, friends and family are reacting to the news that three men who worked to save lives, lost their own in a helicopter crash Saturday morning.
This deadly crash happened after a Mountain LifeFlight helicopter brought a patient to Renown. The crew was headed back to its home base at the Susanville, California airport.
Killed in the crash were the pilot, 39-year-old Jim Bradshaw, who went by "Browski", 40-year-old Clint Reger, a flight nurse and 37-year-old Chris Ritz, a flight paramedic.
"It does bring home to you that they had their incident doing the same job you do," says Maggie Tole, who is a flight nurse and vice president at Reno's Careflight.
She says many of her co-workers knew the group from Mountain LifeFlight.
Reger's Facebook page shows pictures of him at the beach and notes left behind by loved ones. “We love you,” “we miss you” and “suddenly the world became a lot more gray."
Ritz's friends comment on his Facebook: “I count myself lucky to have known you Chris,” “fantastic father” and “this community has lost an incredible man."
Bradshaw's mom tells us her son flew helicopters for years and just started with Mountain LifeFlight in August.
Thursday was the last time she saw her oldest son. He said he was making a difference and saving people's lives.
She adds, he told her he was flying an old machine that could use some updating.
According to Federal Aviation Records, the helicopter that crashed was built in 1982.
"In any job when you mesh machinery and human factors, there's a risk," adds Tole.
This isn't the first crash for a Mountain LifeFlight helicopter.
In March of 2002, one went down, into Honey Lake in Lassen county. The pilot was killed. About a year later, the paramedic died because of complications from injuries he sustained in the crash.
The N.T.S.B. determined the crash was pilot error.
"The factors involved in each and every crash, generally are different. Right now, we're moving forward with reviewing everything that we do," Tole says.
There will be a candlelight vigil for the victims this Tuesday night. It will be at the Banner-Lassen Medical Center in Susanville on the helipad. It starts at 7:00 and everyone is asked to bring a candle.
A memorial service is planned for all three crew members on Friday, November the 20th in the Mountain LifeFlight hanger at the Susanville Municipal Airport at 1:00pm.
