Flight nurse dies following Sacramento freeway helicopter crash, Reach and family announce
Susan “Suzie” Smith, the longtime flight nurse who was among the three crew members injured when their helicopter crashed on a Sacramento freeway earlier this week, has died from her injuries, according to Reach Air Medical Services. She was 67.
“Our Reach family is devastated to share that Susan ‘Suzie’ Smith has passed away from injuries sustained during the accident involving helicopter N414RX on Highway 50 on Monday night,” Reach officials said Saturday morning in a written statement.
“We will remember Suzie as a pillar of the EMS and health care community who saved countless lives by delivering compassionate care in their darkest hours. Suzie’s 50-year career as a nurse included nearly 21 years with Reach, and we are proud to call her our colleague and friend. We hope she is remembered for the light she brought to every call, every shift, and every patient she blessed with her care.
“We grieve Suzie’s loss with her family, friends, colleagues, and the entire community that she faithfully served. Her impact will be felt for years to come through the lives she touched, the teams she strengthened, and the compassion she embodied. Thank you for keeping Suzie’s loved ones and our Reach family in your thoughts and support for our team during this difficult time.”
In social media posts, her family said Smith was surrounded by family as she was taken off life support Friday night.
“I got to hold my mother while she passed last night but her legacy is far from over,” her son Gabriel said in a remembrance. “In my mother’s line of work she was never far from death but she never let it harden her heart. She knew every second was precious and chose to spend that time helping others and building communities. She is leaving impossibly large shoes to fill but thankfully it looks like she rallied an army.”
In a statement, the family said “Suzie’s life was not wasted but poured out with purpose, courage and deep intention. Her legacy reminds us to live boldly, love freely, and never hold back the good we can give when we follow Him.”
“We are so thankful for the rainbow that stretched across Redding last night, reminding us that God has promised His presence, His peace, and His comfort. Our family is deeply grateful to the community for the love, support, and prayers that have carried us through this difficult week. Thank you for partnering with God to bring comfort to our hearts. We also extend heartfelt thanks to the doctors and staff at UC Davis Medical Center for their exceptional care, not only for Suzie, but for our entire family, and to Reach Air Medical Services for treating each of us as their own.”
“In her honor please spread kindness, love your neighbors, volunteer, lift up those in need and make every second count.”
Smith, of Palo Cedro, was on board Reach 5, the Airbus H130 that crashed shortly after takeoff from the UC Davis Medical Center heliport on Monday evening. The helicopter was headed home to Redding after transporting a patient when it went down in the eastbound lanes of Highway 50.
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
Smith had been pinned beneath the helicopter and was taken to UC Davis Medical Center in critical condition, officials said at the time. The pilot and paramedic — Chad Millward, 60, and Margaret “DeDe” Davis, 66 — were also injured in the crash and remain in critical but stable condition at UCDMC.
Smith’s friends described her as a “dedicated” and “highly skilled” nurse who was deeply rooted in Northern California’s emergency medical community; she was also widely known for her humanitarian work abroad.
Smith is survived by her husband, RJ; son, Gabriel; daughter, Carli; and several grandchildren. Funeral services are pending.
This story was originally published October 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM.