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Federal authorities are trying to determine why two medical helicopters crashed in mid-air, killing six people. It happened yesterday in Flagstaff, Ariz.
The man who survived that deadly crash lives and works full time in Salt Lake City. James Taylor, 36, is in critical condition at a hospital in Flagstaff. Taylor was a flight nurse there, in addition to working his nursing jobs at St. Mark's Hospital and Intermountain Medical Center.
At the Intermountain Medical Center, spokesman Jess Gomez says it's been a difficult day. "One of our colleagues has been critically injured in a horrific accident. So right now, all we can do is really offer our prayers and our hope that he'll be OK," he said.
Gomez knows Taylor personally. He says Taylor first started working for Intermountain Healthcare (IHC)as a physical therapist, and then earned his nursing degree.
Taylor has been working in the emergency room at the Intermountain Medical Center for just about a year, and Gomez calls him a dedicated nurse who loves his profession and his patients. His colleagues say he's a outstanding person, hardworking and fun to be around.
Gomez says several registered nurses who work for IHC also work for Classic Helicopters, the Utah-based company that owned one of the aircraft that crashed.
At St. Mark's, a prayer service for Taylor was held this afternoon. A spokesperson there says Taylor is a skilled nurse who is a vital member of the team.
The two medical helicopters collided in mid-air near Flagstaff, Ariz. yesterday afternoon as they were flying near a hospital. Six people on board were killed, while Taylor was critically injured. Taylor's stepsister told KSL that his family is at the hospital with him. He is the father of three children.
A fund has been set up to help with Taylor's treatment and recovery. You can donate at any Zions Bank location under the "James Taylor" fund.
Air ambulance programs in Utah have been touched by tragedy in the past. In January of 1998, four people, including a patient, died when an Air-Med helicopter crashed while trying to transport a skier who'd been caught in an avalanche near Snowbird.
Five years later, a Life-Flight helicopter went down in thick fog west of the Salt Lake International Airport, killing a pilot and a paramedic. The following June, a tail rotor failure caused the crash of another Life-Flight helicopter, killing the pilot.
In spite of the tragedies, Gomez says the flight programs are critical services. He says they not only transport patients quickly, but they provide advanced life support.
Unlike Flagstaff, flights in and out of hospitals in Salt Lake City are actually controlled from the airport, and are monitored on radar.
Gomez says communications have also greatly improved not only within the agencies, but between the two air ambulance services doing business in Utah.
E-mail: mgiauque@ksl.com
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
