Medical chopper clips power lines

Authorities say a medical helicopter carrying an injured person had to make an emergency landing after it clipped a set of power lines in Council Bluffs.

The incident began about 6 p.m Wednesday, when rescuers were called to a Bluffs residence at 14201 Overland Trail to help a person who’d been injured in a fall. The person’s injuries were serious enough to call in a LifeFlight helicopter to take the person to Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha.

As the chopper took off, authorities said, its rear rotor clipped a live power line. The helicopter quickly landed — and did so safely — though a small brush fire was sparked by the damaged electrical wire.

No one was injured in the helicopter accident. The original victim was driven by ambulance to Creighton.