Tuesday, December 11, 2007

** Missing Alaska air ambulance may have plunged into fjord, searchers say

** Oregon paramedic nabbed on sexual assault charges

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Searchers scouring Prince William Sound, Alaska for the remains of a missing air ambulance now believe the chopper may have plunged into a fjord. The Associated Press (Dan Joling/December 10) said the theory is being shopped after the Sunday discovery of the body of flight nurse John Stumpff, 47. Along with the corpse, one of the helicopter’s doors and some medical equipment were also discovered. Disappearing sometime after 5 p.m. December 3, the LifeGuard Eurocopter BK-117 was en route from Cordova to Anchorage at the time of its loss. Weather conditions included wind and snow. Along with Stumpff, paramedic Cameron Carter, 25, pilot Lance Brabham, 42, and patient Gaye McDowell, 60, remain unaccounted for. McDowell was being transported following complications due to breast cancer surgery. An autopsy on Sumpff is pending.

** A Portland, Oregon paramedic is in hot water, after being accused of sexually assaulting a female patient while en route Saturday to Legacy Emanuel Hospital. KGW-TV (Antonia Giedwoyn/December 10) said American Medical Response practitioner Lennie L. Hazzard, 61, was arrested Monday and charged with two counts of sexual assault. Police are keeping mum on exact details of the incident. They continue to investigate and have publicly asked other women whom Hazzard treated to contact them.