One Dead, Two Critically Injured in Vanderbilt LifeFlight Helicopter Crash in Wilson County
WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WTVF) — A tragic accident has claimed the life of one LifeFlight crew member and left two others seriously injured after a Vanderbilt University Medical Center helicopter crashed in Wilson County on Saturday afternoon.
Officials say the LifeFlight 1 helicopter went down around 2 p.m. in a remote area near the 7100 block of Cairo Bend Road, just minutes after taking off from the Wilson County Emergency Operations Center at 1:33 p.m. The aircraft was not carrying a patient at the time of the crash.
In a somber statement, Dr. Jane Freedman, Vanderbilt’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer, confirmed that Flight Nurse/Paramedic Allan Williams did not survive. Critical Care Flight Paramedic Andrew “Andy” Sikes and the pilot, whose name has been withheld at the family’s request, remain hospitalized with serious injuries.
“For 41 years, through more than 80,000 flights and 40,000 ground transports, the remarkable members of the Vanderbilt LifeFlight team have saved countless lives,” Dr. Freedman said. “Despite the inherent risks of this work, these dedicated individuals feel called to serve patients in their most vulnerable moments.”
She added, “Please join me in supporting Allan’s family, as well as Andy, the pilot, and their families, as we grieve this profound loss.”
The crash site, located in an unpopulated area, was quickly secured by local emergency responders. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have both launched investigations to determine the cause of the crash.
