Nurse with 20-Year Career Among Three Fatalities in Catalina Island Helicopter Crash

A REACH Air Medical Services helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Catalina Island shortly after 7:50 p.m., killing three of the five occupants. Among the dead were 48-year-old nurse Jessica Devries, who had spent more than two decades in nursing, and 45-year-old patient Catalina Hernandez, who was being transported for an allergic reaction. The pilot also perished, while Hernandez’s son and a male medic survived with injuries and received medical care.

The Los Angeles County Medical one outlet identified Devries, and police divers later recovered Hernandez’s body. Friends and former colleagues mourned Devries, recalling her joyful and compassionate nature. Oceanside police and fire departments expressed condolences, noting the long-standing partnership with REACH crews. A memorial service was held on Catalina Island, and the crash remains under investigation.