Medical Helicopter from Rockford Memorial Crashes in Northern Illinois Field; Victims Names Released
The pilot and two nurses flying in a REACT medical helicopter from Rockford Memorial Hospital were killed Monday night when the aircraft hit bad weather and crashed, multiple media sources are reporting.
ROCHELLE —Two nurses and a pilot were killed when the REACT medical helicopter they were flying in crashed at about 8:30 p.m. Monday in a field near Rochelle, the Northwest Herald is reporting. The helicopter was flying from Rockford Memorial Hospital to Mendota to pick up a patient, the story said. Those killed include the pilot Andy Olesen, 65, and flight nurses Karen Hollis, 48, and Jim Dillow, 40, the Herald reports. There were no patients on the helicopter when it crashed, and Olesen was an experienced pilot, the story stated. The REACT helicopter encountered bad weather and intended to turn around and head home when it crashed, the Rockford Register Star is reporting. Dillow, a flight nurse, was 40 years old and joined the hospital…
Bailey Rau
10:08 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Andy Oleson was and is my uncle. I am in 7th grade and just saw him last summer. I live in minnesota so we didn't see eachother much but i still loved him dearly. I do love him and knowing him personaly he is a great man... more ›