Helicopter Medevac Crash Kills Four

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The eighth medical helicopter crash in the past 12 months took place in a suburban Washington park Sunday during fog and rain, killing four of five aboard and lifting the 12-month medevac helicopter death toll to near 30 for that period. The crew of the flight, conducted by the Maryland State Police, reported that it would divert to Andrews Air Force Base due to weather. That would have landed it about halfway between the accident site and Prince George’s county hospital. The safety of medevac operations, which since 1990 has shown an increase in the rate of crashes, has earned the attention of the NTSB, which plans to hold a public hearing on the topic. Maryland’s state-run program has now had just four fatal helicopter crashes over four decades, according to The Associated Press. Sunday’s crash killed veteran pilot Stephen Bunker, 59; paramedic Mickey Lippy, 34; EMT Tanya Mallard, 39; and 18-year old Ashley Younker. Another 18-year-old female survived.

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