Autopsy results released late Wednesday evening showed the three crew members who perished in Sunday’s helicopter crash died on impact.

According to a press release from the office of the Decatur County Coroner, Deputy Coroner Mike Gasper affirmed the autopsies on the crew members were performed in Indianapolis. The results showed their deaths were “caused by non-survivable trauma on all members due to the crash impact and not the fire following the crash,” the release states.

The identities of pilot Roger Warren, flight nurse Sandra Pearson and flight paramedic and Base Manager Wade Weston were confirmed through dental records, the release states.

The news that the three crew members lost in the crash did not suffer was of little comfort to the Air Evac Lifeteam family.

“A death in any manner is a tragedy to us. The autopsy stands on its own. It’s a tragedy to us regardless of what it states,” Julie Heavrin, public relations director for Air Evac Lifeteam said.

Decatur County Sheriff Daryl Templeton agreed the loss of life, especially within the emergency responder community, was tragic no matter the findings.

“It’s bad either way. At least we know they weren’t trapped inside. Knowing they didn’t suffer, they didn’t know about the fire, is worth something I guess,” Templeton said.

Heavrin said the company was taking the investigation in stride but would provide no information regarding any details. Instead, the Lifeteam family was focused on remembering their fallen friends.

“This is a tragic time for us. These were family members, and we mourn their loss. They’ll always be in our thoughts,” Heavrin said.

The company is planning a memorial service beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Shelbyville High School gymnasium. She invited the public to come and remember the crew and offer their support to friends and family of Warren, Pearson and Weston.

As the company’s extended family mourns, the investigation in what led to their deaths continues. Templeton and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the rotor of the helicopter came off before the crash. Templeton said the site has been cleared and the pieces placed in storage except for one integral find. As of noon Thursday, the helicopter’s transmission was still missing.

Templeton noted about 20 to 35 acres of the remote cornfield near Burney had been cut down and federal and local officials have combed the corn.

“They’ve been walking through the corn all day looking for it,” Templeton said.

The Sheriff hoped the piece would be found soon but believed it may take until close to harvest season when the corn has withered and is shorter. Finding the transmission may be the vital piece of the puzzle that will help determine what caused the crash.

“We know the rotor came off. If we had the transmission, it might help figure out what made the rotor come off,” Templeton said.