Members of The University of New Mexico Department of Emergency Medicine expressed sorrow today at the tragic news that the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Metro 2 helicopter had crashed, killing all aboard.
The crash in San Miguel County near Las Vegas, N.M., came after the helicopter crew responded to a wildfire on Saturday. Three BCSO personnel and a member of the Bernalillo County Fire Department died in the crash.
“It’s hard to find the words to describe the loss our community is facing today,” said Drew Harrell, MD, an associate professor of Emergency Medicine who serves as BCSO medical director. “We stand by our brothers and sisters at BCSO and BCFD, and have been honored to serve alongside the crews of Metro 2 for years.”
UNM Emergency Medicine personnel have had a close and longstanding working relationship with the BCSO helicopter service, with whom they have trained for rescue missions in challenging situations. The training was put to the test on more than one occasion.
On New Year’s Day, Harrell and Trevor Mayschak, a paramedic and senior lecturer at the UNM International Mountain Medicine Center, worked with the helicopter crew to bring 20 people stranded in a car on the Sandia Peak Tramway to safety, a feat that drew international attention.