Suzie Smith, the nurse aboard the helicopter that crashed in Sacramento, has died, REACH Air Medical Services confirmed on Saturday.
The fatal Sacramento car crash involved a medical helicopter from REACH 5. Suzie Smith was identified as one of the passengers on board the aircraft that crashed onto Highway 50 on Monday. She suffered serious injuries and remained in critical and unstable condition following the incident.
REACH released a statement honoring Suzie Smith, calling her a pillar of the EMS and healthcare community. “Suzie was a pillar of the EMS and healthcare community who saved countless lives by delivering compassionate care,” REACH said. “She had a 50-year career as a nurse, including nearly 21 years with REACH, and we are proud to call her our colleague and friend.”
The accident occurred while a REACH crew was returning to Redding after transporting a patient to UC Davis Medical Center. A pilot and paramedic were also on board and remain in critical condition. Chad Millward, the pilot, and Margaret “DeDe” Davis, the paramedic, were identified by REACH.
Suzie Smith is survived by her husband, son, two sisters, and a brother.
In a Facebook post, her son Gabriel Smith shared his grief and remembered his mother. “I got to hold my mother while she passed last night but her legacy is far from over,” he wrote. “In my mother’s line of work, she was never far from death, but she never let it harden her heart. She knew every second was precious and chose to spend that time helping others and building communities.”
The cause of the fatal Sacramento car crash is currently under investigation.
