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5 Dead in Small Plane Crash in Lafayette, La., Official Says 5 Dead in Small Plane Crash in Lafayette, La., Official Says
(about 1 hour later)
At least five people died after a small plane crashed next to a post office in Lafayette, La., on Saturday, the city’s Fire Department said. Five of the six people aboard a small plane died on Saturday morning after it crashed next to a post office in Lafayette, La., less than a mile from where it took off, the authorities said.
Alton Trahan, a spokesman for the Lafayette Fire Department, said that five people had died in the crash. He said two people had been taken to hospitals, one from the plane and one from the ground. Chief Robert P. Benoit of the Lafayette Fire Department said one person had survived the crash. That person and three other people on the ground were taken to hospitals, he said. A hospital spokeswoman said one woman was in critical condition at Lafayette General Medical Center.
Robert P. Benoit, the fire chief, said investigators were at the scene and working to confirm how many people had been on the plane when it crashed into a lot next to the post office. The plane, a two-engine Piper Cheyenne, crashed one mile west of Lafayette Regional Airport, where it had taken off, said Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. He said the cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
A woman was taken to Lafayette General Medical Center and was listed in critical condition, said Patricia Thompson, a spokeswoman for Lafayette General Health System. Because the crash was near a post office and other businesses, “we can’t be sure at this point if she was on the plane or a bystander,” Ms. Thompson said. Videos and photographs from the scene show chunks of metal in a field next to the post office and flames billowing near United States Postal Service mail trucks.
Videos and photographs posted online showed flames and pieces of metal in a field and a parking lot next to United States Postal Service trucks. An exterior wall of the brick post office was left blackened, and nearby residents said their lights had gone out after they heard the crash.
Lois Comeaux was at a Walmart next to the post office when she heard a “big boom” and the store went dark. Ms. Comeaux said she saw pieces of the plane in a vacant lot behind the post office, and that some of the post office’s windows had been blown out by the force of the crash. Lois Comeaux was at a Walmart near the post office when she heard a “big boom” and the store went dark. Ms. Comeaux, who lives about 300 feet from where the plane crashed, said that she could see pieces of the plane behind the post office, and that some of the post office’s windows had been blown out by the force of the crash.
“There’s a big vacant lot, and there are three big pieces of plane,” she said.“There’s a big vacant lot, and there are three big pieces of plane,” she said.
Emergency vehicles had swarmed the area, she said, and firefighters appeared to be putting out small fires. Emergency vehicles had swarmed the area and firefighters put out small fires.
Rebecca Simon said she had just pulled into her garage, less than a mile from the site of the crash, when she heard a plane fly unusually low over her house.Rebecca Simon said she had just pulled into her garage, less than a mile from the site of the crash, when she heard a plane fly unusually low over her house.
“Right after, there was a really loud noise that shook the garage door, and the electricity blinked, then went out,” she said.“Right after, there was a really loud noise that shook the garage door, and the electricity blinked, then went out,” she said.
Her roommate called the electric company to find out what was going on, but then they heard sirens and saw smoke outside.Her roommate called the electric company to find out what was going on, but then they heard sirens and saw smoke outside.
Investigators from the F.A.A. and the National Transportation Safety Board were on their way to the site, Mr. Molinaro said.
Johnny Diaz contributed reporting.Johnny Diaz contributed reporting.