The heavy haze and terrible air quality in the area on Tuesday prevented a helicopter with Flight for Life Wisconsin from taking off to the scene of a vehicle and motorcycle accident in Menomonee Falls.
Smoke from wildfires has reduced visibility in southeast Wisconsin to a level below what the FAA considers safe for Flight for Life helicopter operations. The speed at which the victims could be removed from the scene in Menomonee Falls was slowed since they were unable to react to this crash.
“The driver of the motorcycle was conveyed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and we currently have officers on scene conducting an investigation into the specifics and cause of the crash to include witness interviews. I do not have any updates on the driver of the motorcycle at this time,” Menomonee Falls Police Department Captain of Police Gene Neyhart said in a statement.
According to the Executive Director of Flight for Life Wisconsin Operations, Leif Erickson said this was the first time in his career that visibility was too poor for Flight for Life aerial services to be deployed.