HERTFORD, N.C. —Duke Health on Saturday released the names of workers who died in a medical helicopter crash in northeastern North Carolina on Friday.
The Duke Life Flight helicopter crashed in Perquimans County killing three crew members and a medical patient, the North Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed.
The helicopter crashed around 11:45 a.m. after leaving Sentara Albemarle Medical Center, authorities said.
The three workers who died were flight nurses Kris Harrison, R.N. and Crystal Sollinger, R.N. and, the pilot, Jeff Burke, officials said.
“The Duke University Hospital and entire Duke University family continues to grieve their loss,” Sarah Avery, Duke Health spokeswoman said in a news release Saturday.
Officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) arrived Saturday to investigate. Teams were formed to investigate the crash site.
The Highway Patrol said the helicopter went down in an area near Swamp Road and Sandy Cross Road, near the Belvedere community. That is near the Gates County line.
Duke Health released the following statement Friday:
With deep sorrow we can confirm that a Duke Life Flight helicopter crashed early this afternoon near Belvidere, North Carolina. We are in the process of directly confirming information related to this incident and will share more information as it becomes available.
The helicopter and crew were based out of Johnston Regional Airport in Smithfield, officials confirmed.
Duke Life Flight has been based at Johnston Regional Airport for more than 10 years.
The NTSB is formally in charge of the on-going investigation.
