The Latest on the crash of a medical helicopter in northern Wisconsin (all times local):

Authorities have identified the pilot and two crew members who died when a medical helicopter crashed in northern Wisconsin.

USA Today Network-Wisconsin reports that the crash claimed the lives of the 34-year-old pilot, Rico Caruso, of Hazelhurst; 43-year-old Gregory Rosenthal, of Mosinee; and 30-year-old Klint Mitchell, of Watersmeet, Michigan.

The men were returning to the helicopter's home base in Woodruff after flying a patient to Madison late Thursday. Search and rescue crews found the wreckage of the Ascension Health Spirit helicopter early Friday in wooded, rough terrain near Caruso's hometown, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Green Bay. No patients were on board.

Oneida County Medical Examiner Larry Mathern says the men were "three great members of our emergency medical services community."

According to our partners at

Howard Young Foundation has set up a memorial account to benefit the families.

Howard Young is accepting donations through its website for the "Helping Hands for Spirit Helicopter Families."

here to make an online donation.

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Federal investigators are now collecting evidence from the scene of a medical helicopter crash in Oneida County late Thursday night after flying a patient to Madison. Three flight crew members died.

"We're gathering perishable evidence. The three main things we're going to look at are the weather that was occurring at the time, the pilot's flying background and the aircraft's maintenance operational background," Ed Malinowski, an NTSB air safety investigator.

Investigators say the helicopter's GPS signal vanished just before 11 p.m. The wreckage was found in the middle of a wooded area around 2:15 a.m. 12 miles south of the hospital where the emergency responders were based.

Investigators say they'll speak with the manufacturer of the helicopter, the FAA and the hospital.

A preliminary report on the crash is expected in two weeks. A full report will take at least a year to complete.

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1:45 p.m.

Ascension Wisconsin says it's suspending operations of its air and ground medical transport units following the fatal crash of a medical helicopter in northern Wisconsin.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office says three flight crew members on board an Ascension Health Spirit helicopter died when it crashed in Hazelhurst, a small town about 150 miles northwest of Green Bay. The wreckage was found early Friday after the chopper was reported missing late Thursday night.

Ascension Wisconsin says air and ground ambulance service will be suspended until the company determines when it's appropriate to resume operations. The company said in a statement that it's working with emergency service partners and medical transportation colleagues in the region to meet patient needs.

Air Methods operates medical air services for Ascension, providing mechanics and pilots. Air Methods spokeswoman Christina Ward says one of its pilots was killed in the crash. Ascension operates its own ambulances in the region.

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11:20 a.m.

Authorities in northern Wisconsin say the three people killed in the crash of a medical helicopter were flight crew members.

Oneida County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Dan Hess says the wreckage was found early Friday. He says no patients were on board the Ascension Health Spirit helicopter when it crashed in Hazelhurst, a small town about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of Green Bay.

A search was launched after the chopper was reported missing late Thursday night.

The Federal Aviation Administration says the helicopter left Madison and was on its way to Woodruff when it crashed about 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of its destination. The FAA is sending a team to help with an investigation led by the National Transportation Safety Board.

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10:10 a.m.

Authorities say three people are dead after a medical helicopter crashed in northern Wisconsin.

The Oneida County Sheriff's Office confirmed the three fatalities on Friday. Chief Deputy Dan Hess said the crash involved an Ascension Wisconsin Spirit helicopter, but he said he doesn't know if the three victims were all Ascension employees.

Hess says search and rescue crews reached the crash scene Friday. The helicopter was reported missing late Thursday night, and a search was launched. Crews say the helicopter was found in Hazelhurst, a small town about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of Green Bay.

A witness who drove search crews to the scene on an amphibious all-terrain vehicle says the chopper went down in a heavily wooded area with high ridges and some swamps.

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8:12 a.m.

Emergency responders have found a missing medical helicopter in northern Wisconsin, but no word yet about the people on board.

The last contact with the helicopter was Thursday night. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office said Friday that the helicopter was later located in Hazelhurst, a small town about 150 miles (241 kilometers) northwest of Green Bay.

The agency released no details about the accident, including how many people were on board or their conditions, but did note that one of the agencies responding was the local coroner.

The sheriff's office referred questions from The Associated Press to Ascension Health, which didn't immediately respond to calls and emails Friday morning.

Authorities say the last known contact with the helicopter was at 10:55 p.m. Thursday. Dispatchers received a call that the chopper was missing 25 minutes later. At least eight agencies were involved in the search.

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