ROCKFORD (WIFR) —
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say a medical helicopter has crashed in northern Illinois, killing all three people on board.
The victims are identified as crew members on the aircraft: pilot Andy Olson; flight nurse Jim Dillow, R.N.; and flight nurse Karen Hollis, R.N.
The Federal Aviation Administration reports the helicopter crashed Monday night while traveling from Rockford, near the Wisconsin border, to a hospital about 60 miles south in Mendota.
The helicopter was registered to Rockford Memorial Hospital. Hospital spokeswoman Laura Maher says no patients were on board when the helicopter crashed around 8:30 p.m. into a field in Rochelle, about midway between the two cities.
Maher didn’t immediately have information about the flight crew, but says crews generally consist of two nurses and a pilot.
The FAA says the helicopter was destroyed and all three people on board were killed.
Rockford is about 80 miles northwest of Chicago.
Rockford Health System has released this statement on its Facebook page:
At Rockford Health System, our hearts are heavy. We grieve the loss of three heroes who dedicated their careers to serving others.
At approximately 8:30 p.m., C.S.T., on Monday, December 10, Rockford Memorial Hospital’s REACT helicopter crashed in a field south of Rochelle, Ill., in Lee County. There were no survivors. The crew members on the aircraft were Pilot Andy Olson; Flight Nurse Jim Dillow, R.N.; and Flight Nurse Karen Hollis, R.N.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of our three fallen crew members.
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WE WILL NEVER FORGET OUR EMS HEROES….
The following are brief biographies of the three REACT crew members who were killed when the aircraft went down in a field south of Rochelle, Ill., in Lee County.
Flight Nurse Jim Dillow, R.N., 40, joined Rockford Memorial Hospital in 1996. He was an experienced critical care nurse and emergency room nurse and had more than 10 years of experience as a flight nurse.
Flight Nurse Karen Hollis, R.N., 48, began her career at Rockford Memorial Hospital in 1986 and worked as a critical care nurse. She held leadership positions as a Clinical Resource Coordinator and a Trauma Nurse Coordinator and had more than 10 years of experience as a flight nurse.
Pilot Andy Olesen, 65, was employed by Air Methods, Rockford Health System’s contracted provider of aircraft services. Andy was an experienced pilot when he began flying for Air Methods in 1994 and had been a pilot for REACT for about five years.
Original Story: Courtesy KWQC/website
Hero Biographies: Courtesy WIFR
+++ The NW Fire Blog is saddened by this tragic crash. Our hearts and prayers are with the crew’s families, friends and colleagues during this tragedy. We will never forget their legacy they have left on our hearts and souls. We appreciate their many sacrifices and dedication to the profession. WE WILL NEVER FORGET…… RIP. +++
NW Fire Blog 