WASHINGTON, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed after a medical helicopter crashed in Wisconsin, a local TV reported on Sunday.

    According to the local WISCTV, the medical helicopter belonging to the University of Wisconsin disappeared on Saturday night from La Crosse after sending back a patient to the community, and was found crashed in the same area the next morning.

    The victims were identified as Darren Bean, a physician, Mark Coyne, a registered nurse, and Steve Lipperer, the pilot, all from Madison, the report said.

    Allan Tiedy, a La Crosse County Emergency Dispatch Center official, told the TV that the crash site was in Onalaska town, only about four miles (6.4 kilometers) from the airport they took off.

    During a morning news conference, local authorities told reporters that they have no details on what might have happened to the helicopter, but preliminary reports suggest that the craft might have struck a hill or flown into some trees.

    The university officials said that they would be cooperating with the Federal Aviation Administration investigation.