Azusa, Los Angeles County, CA: A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Rescue Helicopter with a total of six on board, crashed while responding to a single vehicle collision in Azusa Canyon in the City of Azusa on Saturday, Mar. 19, 2022.

Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to reports of an LASD Rescue Helicopter that crashed at mile marker 22 on Highway 38 around 4:26 p.m. When LACoFD crews arrived on the scene, they located six victims of the crash that were then transported by another rescue helicopter to a local area hospital.

A witness at the scene on camera stated that a Honda Civic crashed on the highway and they went to assist them in the crash. Then they heard the helicopter crash up the road, drove up and saw the crash.

NTSB is currently investigating the incident.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference at the Pomona Valley Hospital around 10:00 p.m. regarding the incident. The helicopter that crashed is one of LASD’s Air 5 Super Puma helicopters. Villanueva said this crew is doing an average of 500 to 700 rescues a year, typically all in the mountains. Villanueva was grateful everyone on-board the helicopter survived the crash. He confirmed it was five deputies and one ride-along in the helicopter.

Villanueva said there were no reported problems with the helicopters to the best of his knowledge.

The helicopters were acquired in 2012 to replace the aging former US Navy Sikorsky SH-3H Sea Kings that were operated at that time by Sheriff’s Aero Bureau, according to the Southern California Monitoring Association’s website. The parts and support became too expensive and difficult to maintain. Air-Rescue-5, the rescue unit of the Aero Bureau, commenced operations in 1955 with the department’s first helicopter, a Bell 47. This launched the department into the helicopter age and resulted in LASD becoming one of the first law enforcement organizations on the West Coast to incorporate helicopters into use.

The arrival of the Super Pumas established the department as a leader in law enforcement aviation and helicopter operations. The Pumas have more power and increased capabilities which is especially valuable in the high-altitude mountains around Los Angeles County.

Although primarily tasked as rescue aircraft, other missions expected of the Super Pumas include SWAT insertions and extractions, homeland security support, maritime interdiction and personnel transport after natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, and fires. Other missions may include over-water rescues and transports to the Catalina and San Clemente islands, which lie within the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County.

Source for Super Puma information: Southern California Monitoring website

Original source stated on website: Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department