Local News
Three Confirmed Dead in Small Aircraft Crash Near Iotla Valley Elementary School in Macon County
FRANKLIN, N.C. (Macon County) — Authorities in Macon County confirmed that three people were killed Thursday afternoon when a small aircraft crashed near Iotla Valley Elementary School.
The incident occurred along Iotla Church Road, prompting road closures and a large emergency response.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Office issued a public update reassuring parents and guardians that all students and staff at Iotla Valley Elementary School are safe.
The school is located next to Macon County Airport, and officials said the crash took place on a neighboring property, not on school grounds.
“Parents can be assured that children at Iotla Valley Elementary are safe following an airplane accident on the neighboring property,” the sheriff’s office stated in a social media post.
The North Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed that it is leading the local investigation, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also been notified and is monitoring the situation.
Officials have not yet released details regarding the type of aircraft involved, the cause of the crash, or the identities of the deceased.
Emergency crews remain at the scene, and portions of Iotla Church Road are expected to stay closed as investigators work through the night.
Additional updates are expected once next-of-kin notifications are completed and federal authorities provide preliminary findings.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. — Authorities have identified the woman killed in a fatal crash Monday morning that also left a child injured in Jefferson County.
According to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office, the victim has been identified as 32-year-old Erica Nicole Austin, a resident of Birmingham.
The collision occurred early Monday morning and involved a passenger vehicle and a dump truck, said Center Point Fire District Chief Brandon Dahlen.
Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash was reported.
Upon arrival, first responders found Austin critically injured. Despite efforts to assist, she was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:46 a.m.
A child who was traveling with Austin sustained injuries in the collision and was transported by Center Point Fire and Rescue to Children’s of Alabama for treatment. The child’s condition has not been released.
The driver of the dump truck was not injured, officials confirmed.
The impact of the collision led to a complete closure of the roadway for approximately five hours as authorities worked to investigate the scene and clear the wreckage.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly crash.
No additional details have been released at this time.