1 dead in fatal crash in Butler County; CareFlight crashes while landing at scene
Jul. 26—Two pickup trucks were involved in a fatal crash in Milford Twp. this morning, and a medical helicopter responding to the scene crashed while landing.
The crew of the medical helicopter is OK, officials said.
The trucks crashed at U.S. 127 and Hamilton Eaton Road about 4:08 a.m., according to Butler County Sheriff's Office Capt. Morgan Dallman. U.S. 127 in that area is closed both directions until further notice.
A 69-year-old woman was ejected from one the trucks. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Three others were injured, officials said.
Crash details
A blue 1998 Chevy Silverado was traveling east on Eaton Road and proceeded through the intersection into the path of a gray 2013 GMC Sierra that was traveling north on 127, Dallman said.
The woman who died was the rear passenger of the Silverado. She is from Richmond, Ind.
A front passenger in the Silverado, a 43-year-old woman, was extricated from the vehicle and taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The other two occupants of the Silverado suffered minor injuries and were also taken to the hospital.
The driver of the Sierra was the only occupant of the vehicle and was not injured.
Dallman said the CareFlight helicopter crashed at about 4:58 a.m. while attempting to land at the scene.
Witnesses at the scene said two vehicles were in a ditch on 127 and wires were down across the road.
In the CareFlight crash, the helicopter appeared to be damaged and tilted on its side.
Premier Health issued a statement regarding the medical helicopter crash:
"Early this morning, a CareFlight helicopter operated by Air Methods Corp. responding to a vehicle accident in Butler County contacted wires and experienced a hard landing. The patient was not on board the aircraft, and the three crew were able to safely exit the aircraft," according to a statement from Susan Howard, with Premier Health. "The crew has been taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation. Air Methods has contacted the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, and will be working through the investigation process with these agencies.
"The safety of patients and crew is of the utmost importance to us. We are grateful that no one was seriously injured in this incident," Howard said.
Hamilton Eaton Road is closed from Ritter Street to Jacksonburg Road until the crash scene is cleared.
