A MEDICAL HELICOPTER CRASHES NEAR TUCUMCARI EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. STATE POLICE LT. MANNY GUTIERREZ TELLS US THEY GOT A CALL AROUND 2:30 AM FROM TRISTATE CAREFLIGHT SAYING THEY'D LOST CONTACT WITH ONE OF THEIR HELICOPTERS. THE CRASH SITE IS NEAR A MESA NORTH OF I-40 IN A RURAL PART OF THE STATE.
STATE POLICE CONTACTED A LANDOWNER NEAR THE CRASH SITE, WHO SAYS AN EMPLOYEE FOUND THE WRECKAGE ON THE SIDE OF A ROCKY MOUNTAIN, ENGULFED IN FLAMES. GUTIERREZ SAYS OFFICERS AND SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS ARE STILL TRYING TO GET TO THE CRASH SITE. HE SAYS THEY CAN'T YET CONFIRM IF THERE WERE ANY FATALITIES. TRISTATE CAREFLIGHT SAID THERE WERE THREE CREW MEMBERS ONBOARD, BUT NO PATIENTS.
THE CHOPPER WAS HEADED FROM SANTA FE TO TUCUMCARI TO PICK UP A PATIENT.
