SAN FRANCISCO (Web Desk) – A small plane crashed into the rear of a car on a Southern California freeway, killing a woman and injuring five other people yesterday.
The incident happened about a mile north of state Route 76. The plane, a single-engine blue and white Lancair IV, landed in the slow lane then slid to the shoulder.
The wreckage is not expected to be moved until investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration can get on scene. The crash will also be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officers from California Highway Patrol said the driver was stopped on the shoulder trying to sync his Bluetooth with his vehicle when the car was struck by the plane from behind, according to the Los Angeles Times.
A woman in her 20s, who was seated in the right rear of the car was killed, while three others were taken to a hospital.
It took firefighters about 25 minutes to extricate a 45-year-old woman who was riding in the front passenger seat of the car, according to ABC 10.
Firefighters were also able to contain a fuel leak before it caught fire when they arrived on the scene.
The 60-year-old pilot was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries described as severe trauma to his head, according to ABC 10.
The 50-year-old woman who was his passenger was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.
Witnesses told investigators that the plane appeared to have mechanical problems.
John Marshall was driving when he saw the plane go down. He pulled over, got out of his car and ran to help those injured.
The crash blocked two lanes and caused backups on the freeway that runs to Las Vegas.
A former major league catcher says he once owned the plane involved in the fatal crash, and he had safely landed it on the same highway 16 years ago.
Matt Nokes said that he sold the plane years ago, but he knew the current owner who crashed Saturday on Interstate 15. Nokes says Hogge is an outstanding pilot and plane builder.
