Two people were seriously injured after a tour helicopter crash with six occupants went down Wednesday evening near South Point.
The downed aircraft, operated by Paradise Helicopters Tours of Hawai‘i, was reported to Hawai‘i Fire Department at 5:32 p.m. According to HFD officials, ground crews were unable to access the crash site, which was in an open lava field between Ranchos Subdivision and South Point Road, in a timely manner. Chopper 1 was first on scene and reported four ambulatory patients and two with more serious injuries.
Chopper 1 initially extricated three women, ages 18, 19 and 23. The patients were taken to ground medic units staged at the south end of Menehune Road. HFD reports that Chopper 2 arrive on scene shortly after and extricated the most seriously injured patient, a 19-year-old woman to ground crews where advanced life support protocols were initiated. Chopper 2 returned to the crash site to pick up the second seriously injured patient, a 54-year-old man.
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Chopper 1 extricated a fourth patient who was walking around, a 48-year-old man.
The most critical patient was transported by Chopper 2 to Kona Community Hospital. All other patients were also taken to KCH.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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