A plane plummeted into a car after having engine problems on Monday night in Florida. The crash happened along the southbound lanes of Interstate 95. According to officials, the small aircraft lost power in both engines before dropping toward the busy roadway, striking a Toyota Camry as it came down. The impact sent debris flying across the highway and left one woman injured.
James Coffey, who saw the crash happen right in front of him, recalled how sudden it all was. “All of a sudden the front wheel hit the car; it just came crashing down, sparks flying, debris everywhere,” he said. The aircraft continued skidding until it slammed into the median, coming to a stop.
The injured woman was the driver of the Camry. She was the only occupant inside the vehicle, which somehow managed to climb out moments after the collision. Before emergency responders arrived at the scene, a pastor and his wife, who is a nurse, were nearby and rushed to her aid. Pastor Bernard Wigley said he could not believe she survived the impact at all. “It was so bad that it was the only place that she could have survived. If she had had other passengers, they would have all been smashed,” he said.
His wife, Annie, immediately stepped into action, assisting the injured woman. She said the driver appeared confused and did not fully understand what had happened. Annie said the woman was dazed and thought a semi-truck had hit her, even though the plane was in front of her car.
The injured woman had broken glass all over her body. She received medical aid at the scene for her minor injuries before being transported to the hospital. The small aircraft was occupied by one pilot and a single passenger. Both occupants are reported to be 27 years old. They escaped the crash without injury. Their ability to walk away from the wreck stunned those at the scene.
For the people who witnessed it, the timing was the difference between a frightening crash and a much more devastating outcome. Wigley emphasised just how close the situation came to becoming something far worse. “Just a few seconds earlier or later with that aeroplane, it could have been a major, major catastrophe,” he said.
