LOS ANGELES, April 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — One person was killed after a small plane crashed near a major freeway in Los Angeles in the western US state of California, authorities said.
The fixed wing red Cessna aircraft went down around 12:30 p.m. local time on the 210 freeway embankment in Sylmar, a suburban neighborhood within the City of Los Angeles, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The only person on board the twin-engine Cessna 337 Skymaster was the pilot, who was killed according to the FAA. Los Angeles firefighters contained a small fuel leak and a search of the area did not turn up anyone else who had been in the plane.
Los Angeles Police Department Captain James Townsend confirmed this in a press conference following the crash, where he said, “Right now, what we have, it looks like there’s one lone occupant who is deceased.”
The pilot’s name has not been released.
“Fortunately it was not on the 210 Freeway, because things would’ve obviously been a lot worse,” Townsend continued.
The plane landed in the middle of trees on an embankment along the freeway and did not hit any vehicles, but authorities say drivers should avoid the area. The crash did not spark any flames, and narrowly avoided a group of power lines in along that side of the road.
LAFD Deputy Chief Trevor Richmond said the crash occurred a few miles north of Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, but it’s unclear at this time if that’s where the pilot was headed.
Locals have called for the airport to shutdown several times in the past, and most recently in January after a pilot crashed onto the train tracks in the area, where he was barely rescued before his aircraft was struck by an oncoming train.
L.A. City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez issued a statement following the crash on Wednesday evening, which read: “Tragically, another life cut short by plane crash, and my heartfelt condolences to the victim’s family. Pending confirmation of its departure, the frequency of these incidents should warrant an immediate closure and investigation over the private operations at Whiteman Airport out of respect for the lives of the victims, their families and our community.”
The two lanes on the westbound 210 closest to the crash site were closed as investigators surveyed the scene. — NNN-AGENCIES
