Local News
Amarillo Pickleball Members Killed in Cessna 421C Plane Crash Near Wimberley in Hays County
WIMBERLEY, Texas — Authorities have identified the five individuals killed in a tragic small plane crash late Thursday night in Hays County, as federal investigators work to determine what caused the deadly incident.
According to officials, a twin-engine Cessna 421C crashed at approximately 11:00 p.m. in a wooded area along the 200 block of Round Rock Road, northwest of Wimberley in the Texas Hill Country.
The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and all five persons on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims have been identified as:
- Seren Wilson
- Brooke Skypala
- Stacy Hedrick
- Glen Appling
- Hayden Dillard
The Amarillo Pickleball Club confirmed the group was traveling together en route to a pickleball tournament near Austin at the time of the crash.
Officials said the aircraft departed from Amarillo roughly two hours before the crash and was headed to New Braunfels National Airport.
For reasons still under investigation, the plane went down at a high rate of speed, crashing into a heavily wooded area and igniting upon impact.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office reported receiving the first 911 call at approximately 11:03 p.m.
Emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire crews, and EMS, arrived on scene around 11:17 p.m., where they found the wreckage engulfed in flames.
A nearby resident described the moment of impact, saying it sounded like a loud explosion and shook the surrounding area before flames became visible.
Authorities also confirmed that another aircraft flying in the vicinity at the time landed safely in New Braunfels without incident.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a joint investigation into the crash.
Investigators will examine multiple factors, including weather conditions, mechanical issues, and flight data, as they work to determine the cause.
The crash remains under active investigation, and officials say additional details will be released as they become available.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.