3 Killed In Medical Helicopter Crash In illinois: Pilot And 2 Nurses Dead, Weather Conditions May Have Downed Plane [Photo]

Three people are dead after a helicopter crash in Illinois. A pilot and two nurses were were traveling from Rockford Memorial Hospital  to another hospital in Mendota, Ill. when it crashed in Lee County around 8:30 p.m.  

According to Federal Aviation Association spokesperson Tony Molinaro the plane was carrying no patients at the time and the victims were identified as: pilot Andy Olsen and nurses Jim Dillow and Karen Hollis.

The helicopter was found in a cornfield in Compton, near the small town of Rochelle. According to Lee County Sheriff John R. Varga, the helicopter's debris were scattered all over the field, "Basically what we got was a phone call of an aircraft flying low," Varga said. "People in the area were familiar enough with aircraft that comes across this way, and one of the farmers in the area actually spotted the wreckage."

An investigation is underway to determine what caused the crash and claim that weather may have been a factor since it had been snowing lightly around 8 p.m. at an airport near Rochelle. The Rockford Memorial Hospital are now grieving for the lossof their friends and employees. The hospital released a statement saying, "At Rockford Health System, our hearts our heavy. We grieve the loss of three heroes who dedicated their careers to serving others."