Local News
5 dead after small plane crashes into vehicles near Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa police reported a tragic plane crash that occurred Tuesday afternoon shortly after takeoff from Falcon Field Airport.
A single-engine aircraft went down, striking a vehicle on Greenfield Road in Mesa, Arizona.
Authorities confirmed that five people lost their lives in the crash, with two of the victims identified as Spencer Lindahl and Rustin Randall.
Two of the victims in the crash were a father and his young son from Chandler. Tragically, this family also lost another son, a minor, in December of last year. Their family originally had four children; now, only the mother, a daughter, and one son remain.
Following the incident, several road closures were put in place: northbound Greenfield Road is closed at Brown Road, while the southbound lane is closed at McDowell Road.
McKellips Road is also closed eastbound at Val Vista Drive and westbound at Higley Road.
Police are advising motorists to avoid the area to allow emergency responders and investigative teams to work safely.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken the lead in the investigation, coordinating efforts with multiple local and federal agencies to determine the cause of the crash.
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.