SALINAS HWY 101 CHOPPER CRASH - UPDATED 09-03-10 09:30 a.v.
A portion of southbound Highway 101 in Salinas was shut down this morning for nearly 4 hours while emergency crews worked to clear the wreckage of a helicopter crash. Police say the Gomes Farm Air service chopper went down at 6:10 a.m., a mile south of Airport Boulevard, impacting traffic on Southbound Highway 101 only. Police diverted traffic onto side streets during the morning commute, while officers worked to clean-up fuel that was spilled during the crash. Meanwhile, the helicopter pilot was taken to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries. Both southbound lanes were reopened as of 10 a.m. this morning.