A retired California Highway Patrol officer, Chad Millward, is now fighting for his life after the medical helicopter he was piloting crashed along Highway 50 in Sacramento. The incident, which occurred on a late Monday night, also left paramedic Margaret "DeDe" Davis and flight nurse Susan "Suzie" Smith with serious injuries. According to ABC10, Millward, who had spent nearly three decades with the CHP before his retirement, was honored with the Governor's Public Safety Medal of Valor for his actions during the 2017 Atlas Fire, in which he saved several lives.
Despite the severity of the crash, which required bystanders to lift the helicopter off one of the victims, there were no reported injuries on the ground. The retired officer's career was distinguished by his courage and selflessness, his service demonstrating the highest ideals of the CHP, as stated by the department in remarks obtained by CBS Sacramento. Healings for the injured have taken place across the community, including a candlelight vigil scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Shasta Regional Medical Center.
The Sacramento Fire Department was among the first to respond to the crash, ensuring the quick transportation of the injured to local medical facilities. As per a release from the Sacramento Fire Department, the heroism of first responders was met with equal bravery from community members who rushed to aid, though critical details surrounding the cause of the crash remain under investigation. Further information is expected as the Federal Aviation Administration takes the lead in the ongoing examination of this tragic event, as reported on Hoodline.
Millward, Davis, and Smith are currently under medical care, with Smith in a critical and unstable condition. Throughout the community, they are recognized for their unwavering dedication to helping others, a sentiment echoed by Mary Beaver, a close friend of Suzie Smith for over 30 years. "They are just wonderful people, and like I said, they are always helping people," Beaver told CBS Sacramento. Smith is known not only for her work in the emergency medical field but also for her dedication to medical missionary work in Nicaragua, illustrating the depth, and breadth of her commitment to serving others in need.
