Officials say that winter weather may have been the cause of why a react helicopter crashed Monday night in Lee County near Compton that killed the pilot and 2 nurses.
The investigation continues today with the FAA and the National Transportation board along with the Illinois State Police.
The medical helicopter crashed at around 8:30 in a corn field just south of the intersection of Illinois 251 and Route 30, south of Rochelle. Officials at Rockford Memorial Hospital say that the helicopter left in freezing rain from Rockford to pick up a patient in Mendota. It decided to turn around near Rochelle due to the weather.
Killed in the crash was pilot Andy Oleson along with 2 nurses, Karen Hollis and Jim Dillow. Oleson and Hollis lived in Rockford while Dillow had a home in Shannon.
There was no patient on board the helicopter.
The patient from Mendota was eventually transported by ambulance to Rockford.
Officials from Rockford Memorial Hospital say that they are now focusing on the healing process of their employees following the tragic incident.