(HAZELHURST, WI)–On Thursday night, at 11:22pm. Oneida County Dispatch officials received a call of a missing air ambulance helicopter. The last known contact with the helicopter was at approximately 10:55pm. Emergency Responders searched the last known area in the Town of Hazelhurst. The details of the accident and condition of the occupants are not being released at this time pending further investigation. Emergency County Management, Oneida County EMS, Oneida County Medical Examiner, Minocqua Police Department, Hazelhurst Fire Department, Minocqua Rescue, Newbold Search and Rescue, DNR, MEDEVAC assisted the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. No further information is available at this time according to sheriff’s offiice officials who are continuing to investigate a possible cause of the crash. Three crew members perished in the crash. They included 34-year-old pilot, Rico Caruso, of Hazelhurst; 43-year-old Gregory Rosenthal, of Mosinee; and 30-year-old Klint Mitchell, of Watersmeet, Michigan. They were returning to the helicopter’s home base in Woodruff after flying a patient to Madison late Thursday. Search and rescue crews found the wreckage of the Ascension Health Spirit helicopter early Friday in wooded, rough terrain near Caruso’s hometown. No patients were on board.
(Aaron Harper,WJNR,WOBE,WHTO)
aaronharper22@gmail.com