News

Nurse in Texas Air Evac Crash Dies

Lynn Walker

10/09/2014

Oct. 09--Air Evac Lifeteam, operator of a medical helicopter that crashed Saturday morning in Wichita Falls, says one of the three crew members has died of injuries suffered in the crash.

In a statement Wednesday, Air Evac vice president Daniel Sweeza confirmed flight nurse Leslie Stewart had died.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Leslie's family, and everyone involved in this accident," Sweeza said in a statement. "This is a tragic day for us at Air Evac Lifeteam. Our employees are like family, and we are devastated by this loss. Our focus at this time is on providing support for her family and friends, along with the families of our flight paramedic and pilot, who remain hospitalized."

An Air Evac Lifeteam spokesperson said Stewart died about 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The Air Evac helicopter based in Duncan, Okla., went down just before 2 a.m. Saturday just short of its destination of United Regional Health Care in Wichita Falls.

A patient on board, Buddy Rhodes, 26, was killed in the fiery crash. Stewart and flight paramedic Erasmus J. Vandercloff IV were taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment of burns. Vandercloff was listed as critically injured. Pilot Zechariah Smith was treated for serious injuries at United Regional.

The helicopter was bringing Rhodes to United Regional for treatment of a gunshot wound suffered in Waurika when the chopper crashed.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash that destroyed the aircraft. So far, neither agency has released a cause.