Catalina Island medical helicopter crash victims identified

Authorities have identified the victims of a fatal medical helicopter crash that occurred off Catalina Island on Wednesday night. The crash happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the island.

REACH Air Medical Services confirmed that three people died in the accident. The victims were pilot Steven “Steve” Robinson, 59, and flight nurse Jessica deVries, 48. The third victim was identified as 45-year-old Catalina Romero, a resident of Avalon who was being transported to the mainland for treatment of a severe allergy attack.

Of the five people on board, two survived. Brad Sparks, a flight nurse, is currently receiving medical care. Romero’s eldest son was also among the survivors.

Robinson was a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot who had previously flown Marine One in support of a former U.S. president. deVries was a former member of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District. Official causes of death for Robinson and deVries have been deferred pending further investigation.