Sunday, December 04, 2011

CareFlite helicopter clips street sign

A CareFlite helicopter clipped a Southlake street sign Saturday night as the crew landed to pick up a patient, but no one was injured, authorities said Sunday.

The CareFlite crew and nearby Southlake police and firefighters escaped injuries in the accident that was reported about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

CareFlite president James Swartz said Sunday that the crew was fine and there was no damage.

"It was close enough for us to call for another ambulance," Swartz said Sunday.

FAA officials had not received any reports of the incident as of Sunday afternoon, but Swartz said that CareFlite officials would be contacting the government agency.

CareFlite was called out after a female was injured at the Urban Air Trampoline Park at 325 Commerce Street in Southlake.

The helicopter ambulance was called to take the injured person to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, authorities said.

"While landing, the CareFlite helicopter's main rotor struck a street sign and was not able to transport the individual," said Southlake police spokeswoman Kim Leach on Sunday in an email.

The patient was taken to the hospital in another helicopter ambulance that was called to the scene, Leach said.

Authorities did not release any information on how the person was injured. The condition of the person also was unavailable Sunday.

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