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Lafayette, La., Plane Crash Kills 5, Including Relative of an L.S.U. Football Coach Lafayette, La., Plane Crash Kills 5, Including Relative of an L.S.U. Football Coach
(about 2 hours later)
A sports reporter related to a Louisiana State University football coach was among the five people who died on their way to the team’s playoff game on Saturday after a small plane crashed in Lafayette, La., the authorities said. ATLANTA — A sports reporter related to a Louisiana State University football coach was among the five people who died on their way to the team’s playoff game on Saturday after a small plane crashed in Lafayette, La., the authorities said.
The reporter, Carley McCord, 30, was a daughter-in-law of Steve Ensminger, the offensive coordinator for L.S.U. She and the other passengers were heading to Atlanta, where top-ranked L.S.U. squared off against Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl on Saturday for a spot in the national championship game. The reporter, Carley McCord, 30, was a daughter-in-law of Steve Ensminger, the offensive coordinator for L.S.U. She and the other passengers were heading to Atlanta, where top-ranked L.S.U. easily beat Oklahoma in the Peach Bowl on Saturday for a spot in the national championship game.
Ed Orgeron, the head coach for L.S.U., said in a pregame interview with ESPN that Mr. Ensminger and his family were distraught, but that Mr. Ensminger still coached the game and was shown on television calling plays from the booth. L.S.U. officials learned of the crash at around noon when Derek Ponamsky, special assistant to the head coach, Ed Orgeron, received a text. It then fell to Mr. Orgeron to tell Mr. Ensminger about what had happened in Lafayette.
“Steve’s a Tiger, he’s a man, he knows how to handle things,” Mr. Orgeron said before the game, which L.S.U. won handily, 63-28. “I told him what happened, and here’s what he said: ‘Coach, we’re going to get through this,’” Mr. Orgeron said after the game in Atlanta. “He was distraught, but he called a great game.”
Mr. Orgeron told ESPN that he had presented the game ball to Mr. Ensminger after L.S.U. won handily, 63-28. Mr. Orgeron said he had known Ms. McCord and had been interviewed by her in the past.
“We saw her around all the time,” he said. “An outstanding young lady with a bright future.”
Ms. McCord covered football and basketball as a freelance reporter for Cox Sports Television, ESPN 3 and WDSU, a television station in New Orleans, according to her website. She also had worked as a digital media reporter for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and as an in-game host, an M.C. role, at games for the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.Ms. McCord covered football and basketball as a freelance reporter for Cox Sports Television, ESPN 3 and WDSU, a television station in New Orleans, according to her website. She also had worked as a digital media reporter for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and as an in-game host, an M.C. role, at games for the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Officials did not identify a cause for the crash. All of the plane’s passengers appeared to have been flying to Atlanta for the game, said Alton Trahan, a spokesman for the Lafayette Fire Department.Officials did not identify a cause for the crash. All of the plane’s passengers appeared to have been flying to Atlanta for the game, said Alton Trahan, a spokesman for the Lafayette Fire Department.
The plane crashed into the parking lot of a post office shortly before 9:30 a.m., less than two miles from the Lafayette Regional Airport, where it had taken off. The crash sent chunks of metal into a nearby field and flames billowing near mail trucks.The plane crashed into the parking lot of a post office shortly before 9:30 a.m., less than two miles from the Lafayette Regional Airport, where it had taken off. The crash sent chunks of metal into a nearby field and flames billowing near mail trucks.
An exterior brick wall of the post office was left blackened. The site of the crash was near several apartment complexes, restaurants and other businesses. Nearby residents said that their lights went out after they heard the crash.An exterior brick wall of the post office was left blackened. The site of the crash was near several apartment complexes, restaurants and other businesses. Nearby residents said that their lights went out after they heard the crash.
In addition to Ms. McCord, the authorities identified the victims as Ian E. Biggs, 51, the pilot; Robert Vaughn Crisp II, 59; Gretchen D. Vincent, 51; and Michael Walker Vincent, 15.In addition to Ms. McCord, the authorities identified the victims as Ian E. Biggs, 51, the pilot; Robert Vaughn Crisp II, 59; Gretchen D. Vincent, 51; and Michael Walker Vincent, 15.
The Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette said the school community was mourning the deaths of Michael, a student at the school, and his mother, Ms. Vincent.The Ascension Episcopal School in Lafayette said the school community was mourning the deaths of Michael, a student at the school, and his mother, Ms. Vincent.
Only one of the six people aboard the two-engine Piper Cheyenne plane survived the crash. He was identified as Stephen Wade Berzas, 37, and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, fire officials said.Only one of the six people aboard the two-engine Piper Cheyenne plane survived the crash. He was identified as Stephen Wade Berzas, 37, and was taken to a hospital in critical condition, fire officials said.
When it crashed, the plane struck a car in the post office parking lot, engulfing the car in flames and injuring someone inside, said Mr. Trahan, the spokesman. That person and two Postal Service workers were taken to local hospitals, he added.When it crashed, the plane struck a car in the post office parking lot, engulfing the car in flames and injuring someone inside, said Mr. Trahan, the spokesman. That person and two Postal Service workers were taken to local hospitals, he added.
Nearby hospitals confirmed receiving two people in critical condition. One was a woman on the ground who was taken to Lafayette General Medical Center and transferred to the University Medical Center New Orleans. The other person in critical condition was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.Nearby hospitals confirmed receiving two people in critical condition. One was a woman on the ground who was taken to Lafayette General Medical Center and transferred to the University Medical Center New Orleans. The other person in critical condition was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.
Information on the other two patients was not immediately available.Information on the other two patients was not immediately available.
Lois Comeaux was at a Walmart near the post office when she heard a “big boom,” she said, 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.Lois Comeaux was at a Walmart near the post office when she heard a “big boom,” she said, 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 from near the scene.“There’s a big vacant lot, and there are three big pieces of plane,” she said from near the scene.
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.
Ms. Simon’s roommate called the electricity company to find out what was going on, but then they heard sirens and went outside.Ms. Simon’s roommate called the electricity company to find out what was going on, but then they heard sirens and went outside.
Fellow sports reporters recalled Ms. McCord’s passion and upbeat attitude — both on and off the sidelines.Fellow sports reporters recalled Ms. McCord’s passion and upbeat attitude — both on and off the sidelines.
In addition to her journalism career, Ms. McCord finished twice as the first runner-up in the Miss Louisiana competition, in 2011 and 2012, winning $10,000 in scholarships. In 2013, she auditioned for “The Bachelor.”In addition to her journalism career, Ms. McCord finished twice as the first runner-up in the Miss Louisiana competition, in 2011 and 2012, winning $10,000 in scholarships. In 2013, she auditioned for “The Bachelor.”
In outtakes from the audition, Ms. McCord said that she was a nationally ranked power lifter at age 14, and that she enjoyed competing in fantasy football.In outtakes from the audition, Ms. McCord said that she was a nationally ranked power lifter at age 14, and that she enjoyed competing in fantasy football.
Jennifer Hale, a sideline reporter for Fox Sports and Fox Sports New Orleans, said she had mentored Ms. McCord and watched her successfully balance the demands of being an in-game host for the Pelicans with her work as a television correspondent.Jennifer Hale, a sideline reporter for Fox Sports and Fox Sports New Orleans, said she had mentored Ms. McCord and watched her successfully balance the demands of being an in-game host for the Pelicans with her work as a television correspondent.
“That’s a difficult balance to go from the cheerful, fun-loving M.C. to being the journalist who sometimes has to ask tough questions,” Ms. Hale said.“That’s a difficult balance to go from the cheerful, fun-loving M.C. to being the journalist who sometimes has to ask tough questions,” Ms. Hale said.
Joel Vilmenay, the president and general manager of WDSU, said the station was devastated by her death.Joel Vilmenay, the president and general manager of WDSU, said the station was devastated by her death.
“Carley’s passion for sports journalism and her deep knowledge of Louisiana sports, from high school to the professional ranks, made her an exceptional journalist,” he said in a statement.“Carley’s passion for sports journalism and her deep knowledge of Louisiana sports, from high school to the professional ranks, made her an exceptional journalist,” he said in a statement.
L.S.U. tried, without success, to keep news of the crash from players, a strategy that Mr. Orgeron said Mr. Ensminger had endorsed. It failed; Justin Jefferson, a wide receiver, learned about the crash in a pregame interview.
After the game, he praised Mr. Ensminger: “He’s definitely the M.V.P. of this game for just going through that tragedy and still coming out with the mind frame that he still wanted to win this game.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, in a brief interview on the field in Atlanta after the game, said the crash had been a “tragic accident.”
The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, which is the second to kill a Louisiana television reporter this year.The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, which is the second to kill a Louisiana television reporter this year.
In August, Nancy Parker, 53, an Emmy Award-winning journalist for Fox 8 in New Orleans, died when a Pitts S2B aerobatic airplane crashed shortly after takeoff. Ms. Parker had been working on a story about the biplane’s pilot, who was also killed in the crash at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.In August, Nancy Parker, 53, an Emmy Award-winning journalist for Fox 8 in New Orleans, died when a Pitts S2B aerobatic airplane crashed shortly after takeoff. Ms. Parker had been working on a story about the biplane’s pilot, who was also killed in the crash at New Orleans Lakefront Airport.
“Everybody is just in shock,” Ms. Hale said, adding that Ms. Parker had been her mentor. “No way. How does this happen to two amazing, wonderful people within a few months of each other?”“Everybody is just in shock,” Ms. Hale said, adding that Ms. Parker had been her mentor. “No way. How does this happen to two amazing, wonderful people within a few months of each other?”
Alan Blinder and Johnny Diaz contributed reporting. Alan Blinder reported from Atlanta and Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs and Neil Vigdor reported from New York. Johnny Diaz contributed reporting.