Family and friends of the Redding-based nurse who was among the three injured in a medical helicopter crash are asking for prayers for someone they said has dedicated her life to caring for others.
Susan “Suzie” Smith was on the REACH Air Medical Services helicopter that crashed on Highway 50 in Sacramento around 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6. A pilot and paramedic were also on board. There were no patients on the helicopter.
Friends and family identified Smith on Tuesday, Oct. 7 as one of the crash victims.
On Wednesday, Oct. 8, REACH Air Medical Services identified the pilot as Chad Millward and the flight paramedic as Margaret “DeDe” Davis. Millward lives in Palo Cedro, and Davis is a resident of Sutter County.
All three victims are in critical condition, the company said.
“On behalf of our crew, their families and REACH, we extend heartfelt thanks to the bystanders who helped during their rescue. We deeply appreciate those who became first responders by supporting our flight crews during their time of need and showed exceptional courage during this crucial moment,” the Facebook post said.
Travis Osborne is Smith’s pastor at Valley Christian Family Church in Redding. Osborne and Smith’s friend, David Van Dyke, who is a church elder, were driving to UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento on Wednesday to be with her family and provide support.
Osborne said he spoke to Smith’s husband, Rick “RJ” Smith, earlier Wednesday by phone.
“She is really banged up, there is a lot of broken bones,” Osborne said. “The primary area of concern and why prayers are needed is her brain is swelled. So the next 24 to 36 hours is just the most important. We need to see a serious reduction of that swelling.”
Osborne said the church hosted a prayer gathering for Smith on Tuesday afternoon and more than 400 people showed up.
“She has just had a major impact,” he said. “She has helped people in the most tragic of circumstances.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash that happened on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 west of 59th Street.
News reports say the crash happened after the medical flight crew had taken a patient to UC Davis Medical Center and the helicopter was flying back to Redding.
USA TODAY reported that motorists helped emergency crews lift part of the helicopter to free one of the victims.
Shasta County Supervisor Corkey Harmon mentioned the crash at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. He said the Smiths are his neighbors and are good friends.
“What a rough deal. So keep them in your prayers,” Harmon said.
Van Dyke said the Smiths have been going to Nicaragua for years to help an orphanage in the Central American country. Both Van Dyke and Osborne have gone to Nicaragua to help, too.
“You know, Suzie being … a nurse, we started getting the medical needs down there, and she took the initiative to put together the medical team to go down there at least once a year to serve people down there,” Van Dyke said.
“They have really poured their heart and lives into that place, and people’s lives are changing because of them.”
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding nurse in helicopter crash has given years helping others. ‘Keep them in your prayers’
Reporting by David Benda, Redding Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
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