Local News
Mother Danna Eady and her two youngest sons Pavel and Remus Killed in Fresno Plane Crash
FRESNO, Calif. — An adult woman who was critically injured in a small-plane crash in northwest Fresno has died at a hospital, bringing the reported death toll from the crash to three.
Authorities identified her as Danna Eady, 41, of Auberry.
Eady and her two youngest sons, Pavel and Remus, were aboard a small plane that crashed and caught fire Saturday afternoon near Sierra Sky Park Airport.
The children were pronounced dead at the crash scene, while Eady was transported to a hospital with critical injuries and later died.
The fourth person aboard the aircraft, an adult man identified by the family as Craig, remains hospitalized in critical condition.
The family said Craig lost his wife and two young sons in the crash. Their two older children, Lucien, 17, and Felicity, 18, also lost their mother and younger brothers.
The crash was reported at approximately 1:50 p.m. Saturday in the 7300 block of North Blythe Avenue.
Fresno County sheriff’s deputies, Fresno firefighters, Fresno police officers and North Central Fire Department personnel responded to the scene.
First responders found a fixed-wing, single-engine airplane on fire atop a bluff overlooking the San Joaquin River. Firefighters quickly worked to extinguish the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby homes and properties.
Four people were aboard the aircraft. Two children were pronounced dead at the scene, while two adults were transported to hospitals for treatment.
Following Eady’s death, Craig remains the only reported survivor of the crash and is in critical condition.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken over the investigation into the crash. The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office established a safety perimeter around the site to protect the scene and prevent public access that could interfere with the federal investigation.
The crash also briefly disrupted electrical service for nearby residents. According to the source information, power was temporarily knocked out in the area but was later restored.
The cause of the plane crash has not been released. Investigators with the NTSB are expected to examine the aircraft, crash site and other available evidence as they work to determine what caused the fatal accident.
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.