The three victims of the helicopter crash from yesterday’s events in La Crosse were described by their family and friends in order for everyone to understand their losses.

Doctor Darren Bean, left behind a wife and two young children. He was a dedicated professional, permanently trying to improve the medical system and had been working at UW Hospital since 2002. Mark Coyne, who also had a pilot’s license, worked as a nurse at UW Hospital since 1981 and taught paramedic classes at Madison Area Technical College. Pilot Steve Lipperer, who was involved in transport service for the past twenty years, was married to Doctor Desiree Lacharite, a Med Flight physician.

The victims’ families were informed immediately about the accident and were brought to the UW Hospital as soon as possible.

“He was bringing us to the next generation of resuscitation techniques and heart attack responses.  We are all devastated,” said Dr. Paul Stiegler, medical director of Dane County’s Emergency Medical Services, who worked with Darren Bean on a series of projects for improving the emergency medical system.

According to hospital officials, the Med Flight helicopter left Madison on Saturday night with the mission to drop off a patient at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse. It then departed at around 10:30 p.m. and from that point on there was no further communication received from the crew.

The general belief is that the aircraft, an American Eurocopter EC 13 leased from Air Methods, struck a hill or some trees and was unable to resume its flight. A detailed investigation is being conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration and answers about the incident are expected in the near future.