YORK COUNTY, Pa. — One person is dead and another is injured after a plane crash near the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Interstate 83.
The crash happened around 2:30 p.m. on May 31 near Turnpike Exit 242 in Fairview Township, York County.
Witnesses saw the plane circling around the area a few minutes before the crash.
“It was very shocking to see it as low as it was," said Natalee Derr, who watched the plane from a nearby McDonald's. “It was definitely a shock to see the plane that low because it could’ve hit anywhere. It could’ve hit where we were and that would have been a whole catastrophe.”
According to Carl Defebo with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, there were two confirmed injuries from the crash. One victim was transported via helicopter and the other was treated at the scene.
The FAA reports that one the victims died as a result of their injuries.
The victim was later identified by Dauphin County officials as Lawrence Sager, 74, of Harrisburg. Sager died of injuries sustained in the crash at 4:52 p.m. at UPMC Harrisburg Hospital.
The Dauphin County Coroner's Office ruled he died of multiple traumatic Injuries due to an airplane crash, and determined the manner of death was accidental.
In Defebo's statement to FOX43, the plane reportedly struck a maintenance bucket truck. The driver was not injured.
Ted Czech with York County Emergency Management says crews worked quickly to keep everyone on the interchange safe.
“They worked swiftly and efficiently to do the best for the patients," Czech told FOX43.
The plane, according to FlightAware.com's flight tracker, is a Cessna Skywagon 180, owned by a man in Hummelstown.
All affected ramps from Interstate 83 to the Turnpike reopened just after 6:30 p.m.
The FAA is investigating the crash.