Local News
Thomas Perkins and his wife Agatha Perkins killed in plane crash onto I-195 in Dartmouth
DARTMOUTH, Massachusetts — A tragic plane crash on Monday morning claimed the lives of a Rhode Island couple when their single-engine aircraft went down on Interstate 195 in southern Massachusetts, bursting into flames upon impact.
According to the Massachusetts State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. when the aircraft attempted to make an emergency landing on the grassy median of I-195 near Exit 22 in Dartmouth.
The impact ignited a fire, and thick smoke was seen billowing from the wreckage moments later.
State Police confirmed that both occupants aboard the plane were killed. “This morning’s incident has resulted in the death of two individuals aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash. We offer our condolences to their families and loved ones,” the agency said in a statement.
Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn identified the victims as Thomas Perkins, 68, and his wife, Agatha Perkins, 66, both residents of Middletown, Rhode Island.
According to Quinn, both victims were located inside the aircraft’s fuselage and were pronounced deceased at the scene.
A passing motorist sustained non-life-threatening injuries when debris from the aircraft struck their vehicle.
The driver, whose identity has not been released, was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment.
Video footage recorded by other motorists showed the wreckage engulfed in flames on the highway median.
The plane’s wings appeared separated from the fuselage, and the forward section of the aircraft was completely destroyed.
Authorities confirmed that the aircraft was a Socata TBM-700, a single-engine turboprop capable of carrying up to six passengers.
According to FlightAware data, the plane departed from New Bedford Regional Airport at 8:10 a.m., bound for Kenosha, Wisconsin, with a scheduled arrival time of 10:09 a.m. Preliminary findings suggest the aircraft may have experienced difficulties shortly after takeoff and was attempting to return to the airport before crashing.
“Preliminary information indicates the plane may have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport,” State Police said. “It does not appear that the pilot provided the airport with a flight plan or the number of occupants aboard.”
The crash occurred amid poor weather conditions associated with a nor’easter affecting the New England region, bringing rain, wind gusts up to 40 mph, and reduced visibility.
In response to the crash, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) temporarily closed I-195 in both directions near Exit 22. The highway remained closed for approximately five hours as emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene.
The Bristol County State Police Detective Unit, Crime Scene Services Section, and Field Services were all present at the site, along with first responders from New Bedford Fire and EMS.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assumed responsibility for investigating the cause of the crash. However, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the FAA stated it is not responding to routine media inquiries at this time.
Authorities are continuing to examine the wreckage and flight data to determine the precise cause of the fatal crash.
Local News
Three Killed in Highway 61 Crash Near Walls, Mississippi; Victims Identified as Latasha Dodson, Eddie Dodson, and Tamenshia Ford
WALLS, Mississippi — Three people were killed in a serious collision Wednesday evening near U.S. Highway 61 and Church Road in Walls, leaving multiple families grieving and a community mourning the sudden loss of their loved ones.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the crash occurred at approximately 8:04 p.m. and involved a 2021 Honda Accord and another vehicle driven by 27-year-old Da’Quarius M. Burton of Memphis, Tennessee.
Authorities identified the three people who died inside the Honda Accord as:
- Latasha N. Dodson, 37, of Horn Lake
- Eddie L. Dodson, 41, of Byhalia
- Tamenshia R. Ford, 32, of Horn Lake
All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash also left two people injured. Da’Quarius M. Burton, who was driving the other vehicle, survived the collision, as did a fourth occupant of the Honda Accord whose identity has not yet been released.
Both survivors were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Officials have not provided an update on their conditions.
The circumstances leading up to the collision remain under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
The tragedy has also deeply affected local law enforcement and public service communities. The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of its juvenile detention officers was among those who died in the crash. Another employee was seriously injured.
In a statement, the Sheriff’s Office remembered its fallen employee as a respected and beloved member of the team who demonstrated kindness, compassion, and dedication to the young people entrusted to their care.
The department also recognized the lasting difference the employee made through their work and the positive influence they had on others.
Officials have not publicly identified which of the three victims worked for the Sheriff’s Office.
The Walls Police Department also confirmed that one of its patrol officers was involved in the collision. However, the department has not clarified the officer’s condition or released additional information about the circumstances surrounding their involvement.
The crash has therefore brought grief and concern to several public safety agencies, including the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and the Walls Police Department.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash near Highway 61 and Church Road. Authorities have not released a determination about what caused the vehicles to collide.
Further information may become available as investigators review the circumstances of the incident and complete their work.
The deaths of Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford represent an enormous loss for their families, friends, and everyone who knew them.
Three individuals from different communities have now been lost in a single devastating incident. Their loved ones are left to face the difficult days ahead while holding on to the memories they shared.
The loss has also been felt by colleagues and members of the local public safety community, particularly those mourning the juvenile detention officer remembered for compassion and dedication to young people.
During this painful time, thoughts are with the families of all three victims, the injured survivors, and the employees of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office and Walls Police Department.
May Latasha N. Dodson, Eddie L. Dodson, and Tamenshia R. Ford rest in peace.