Photo: Douglas Sacha / Moment / Getty Images
Two people lost their lives, and one person was injured when a small plane crashed on Interstate 195 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on Monday morning (October 13). The crash occurred amid a powerful nor'easter that brought heavy rain and strong winds to the regionThe plane crashed onto the median of I-195 around 8:15 a.m., igniting a fire.
Massachusetts State Police reported that the two fatalities were individuals on the plane, while the injured person was on the ground. The injured individual was taken to a local hospital by a passerby. The identities of the victims have not been released.
The plane, a fixed-wing aircraft, may have been attempting to land at New Bedford Regional Airport, but it appears the pilot did not provide a flight plan or the number of passengers on board. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation closed both directions of I-195 at Exit 19, and the closure is expected to last for several hours.
A silver vehicle at the scene sustained significant damage. The Federal Aviation Administration has not commented on the crash due to a government shutdown. The Bristol County State Police Detective Unit is leading the investigation into the incident. As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine if the severe weather played a role in the crash.