One of the crew members trapped under the helicopter was identified by family as Suzie Smith.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A powerful image is emerging from the helicopter crash in East Sacramento, a group of strangers coming together to lift a helicopter and save lives after a crash on a local freeway.
Video from the night of the crash shows more than a dozen people working side by side to free trapped crew members.
Kenneth De Crescenzo was among them. The couple said they were just seconds away from the helicopter going down and Ken and his neighbor Elvin immediately ran toward the wreckage.
“When it was coming down, I looked at it and said, ‘This isn’t good,’” said Kenneth De Crescenzo, who helped lift the helicopter. “When people were needed, they all stepped up. Everybody that was nearby and heard that man’s voice knew that they just moved forward and started to go to work.”
De Crescenzo said he and his neighbor didn’t think twice before jumping in.
“There’s something happened here. This is an emergency. They need help. Just step in and do it. It needs to be done,” he said.
His wife, Terry, recorded the rescue while also helping at the scene.
“We were in the right place at the right time,” she said.
The couple credited first responders for their fast arrival.
“Emergency responders got there really really quickly. Fire department was right there, right away. Highway Patrol was right on top of it,” Kenneth said.
One of the crew members trapped under the helicopter was identified by family as Suzie Smith. Her family told ABC10 they are praying for a miracle as she continues to recover from severe injuries.
“We are really hoping the people recover and they will be okay,” Terry said.
For the De Crescenzos, the experience is a reminder of the good in people.
“One human being helping another or a group of human beings helping one another, it is nice to know that it is still like that,” Terry said.
The couple doesn’t see themselves as heroes, just people who did what had to be done.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10 | Bystanders lift helicopter after Highway 50 crash