LA MONTE, MO. -- Update: Sunday, Dec. 19 at 8:25 p.m.
A medical helicopter crashed near Sedalia Sunday left three people injured.
The crash happened around 10:00a.m. near La Monte, Missouri.
"That was amazing on his behalf, that he could think that quickly and get it done that quickly because I mean like I said, they were only 200 feet off the pad," Assistant Chief of La Monte Volunteer Fire Department Mariah Durham said.
One of the first responders to the scene, Durham said a helicopter pilots quick thinking prevented a tragedy in La Monte Sunday morning.
The Staff For Life helicopter had just taken off from a helipad responding to a call.
Sources said the helicopter, operated by Air Methods, was about 200 ft. in the air when one of its engines failed.
Durham told KRCG she spoke with the aircraft’s pilot shortly after the crash.
"He said one of the engines blew up and so when that happened he had no control and he knew they were going to go down so he went ahead and shut the engine off so when they hit the ground they wouldn't explode," Durham said.
The three crew members on board, a pilot, flight nurse and a paramedic were transported to Columbia by three additional helicopters for their injuries.
Durham says several agencies including local fire departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol and a hazmat team assisted during the crash.
“I think the cooperation of everybody that was on scene, the fact that it went as smoothly as it did. Durham said. “We had crowd control. I think it went very well, now it's all just going to be under investigation and checking to see how the crew members are doing."
Besides the helicopter in La Monte, University Hospital has two other helicopters, one at the hospital in Columbia and the other is stationed at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Air Methods said the crash is under investigation.
University Hospital said the three crew members were all listed in fair condition Sunday night.
Orignal Story:
Three people are left injured after an incident involving a University helicopter.
Sources say at about 10:15 Sunday morning a helicopter, operated by Air Methods was approximately 100 ft. off the launching pad and pancaked back down in La Monte, near Sedalia.
University Hospital said the 3 crew members on board the air ambulance listed in fair condition.
Sources told us the members weren't critically injured but did have back pain.
We asked the hospital when they thought the ambulance would be replaced, they said that at this time it is unclear.
We'll update this story when more details become available.
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