Warning light forces landing of airlift helicopter

Published 9:00 pm Monday, August 21, 2006

LYNNWOOD – A helicopter dispatched to a motorcycle crash scene on Interstate 5 was diverted to Paine Field in Everett after a warning light came on.

Nurses with Airlift Northwest remained with the patient, a Lynnwood woman, who was transported by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle with head injuries.

The helicopter’s “chip light” came on after it took off from the crash scene. Described as a routine occurrence, Airlift spokeswoman Mardie Rhodes said the crew can usually solve the problem with a push of a button. This time, that didn’t work, and they needed to land as a precaution.

Nancy Bardsley, 51, was injured after her 2004 Honda motorcycle struck the back of a car about 4:50 p.m. Monday on the 44th Avenue West onramp to Interstate 5.

A portion of the interstate was closed for about a half-hour for the helicopter to land and assist.

Washington State Patrol trooper Kirk Rudeen said the woman was apparently doing a head check as she prepared to merge onto the highway and didn’t notice that traffic had slowed in front of her.

Edmonds: Police officer released from hospital

An Edmonds police motorcycle officer who was involved in a crash Sunday was released from the hospital Monday.

The officer was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after he was forced to lay down his motorcycle on Highway 99 to avoid hitting a car.

He sustained some broken bones, Edmonds police Sgt. Don Anderson said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Everett: Power outage hits north Everett

Nearly 800 businesses and homes lost power in north Everett for 20 minutes on Monday afternoon, Snohomish County PUD officials said.

A transformer popped in the 3200 block of Hewitt Avenue, said Neil Neroutsos, a PUD spokesman.

The PUD’s headquarters building on California Street was one of the buildings that lost power, Neroutsos said.

From Herald staff reports