PEMBROKE PINES, FLA. (WSVN) – A small plane crashed in a residential neighborhood in Pembroke Pines, causing a road closure and sending four people to the hospital, police said.
Pembroke Pines Police and Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the crash in the area of Southwest 14th Street and 68th Boulevard Sunday night.
cameras captured police cruisers and fire rescue vehicles in a residential neighborhood, as well as one of the plane’s wheels on the ground, conveying just how close the aircraft came to hitting a home.
Instead, witnesses said, the plane ended up crashing into a tree.
“I got out of my car, and I heard a big ‘boom’ and then ‘tshhhhh,’ and I got back in my car and went around to see what happened, and it was the plane, a crash,” said Michael.
According to FlightAware, the plane with four people on board, took off from an airport in Turks and Caicos and was about to land at the North Perry airport before running into trouble.
The plane narrowly missing homes before clipping a tree and hitting the ground.
New footage taken Monday morning shows the mangled mess and aftermath of the crash. Residents in the area looked on in shock before moving to action to help pull the family, including two children, from the wreckage.
“You could hear decelerating, and it just smacked the tree,” said Eddie Crispin, one of the good Samaritans. “Once it smacked the tree, we confirmed that the plane did hit the tree, and it hit the ground. The neighbor from across the street had a fire extinguisher trying to put the fire out. My neighbor, where the plane actually crashed, had a water hose and was hosing the plane down. Another guy showed up with the axe; he was actually trying to break the window. It was just pretty much all going on at the exact same time. But we did pull them out one by one.”
A witness who identified herself as Velve said the crash left her feeling shaken up.
“I actually saw the plane come over the power lines, and I said, ‘Oh, my goodness, this looks very close to the power line,’ and it looked like it was going to be a crash,” she said. “So, as I proceeded to look straightforward, I noticed that the plane was, like, making a dip, and the dip got lower and lower, and then there came the crash.”
“For me, it’s the most traumatic experience I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve never actually seen something that traumatic in my face, let alone gone and helped the people,” Eddie said.
Officials said the plane was in some sort of distress and made a forced landing on the street.
“I immediately began to run out and scream, ‘Oh my God, oh my God,’” said Velve, “and my grandson was behind me; he’s like, ‘What’s the matter? What’s the matter?’ I said, ‘It’s a plane crash; it’s a plane crash’.”
Cellphone video shows the crashed plane on top of a tree after clipping it, narrowly missing homes, according to officials.
Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue officials said the impact did not ignite a fire.
Investigators said the pilot and three passengers who were on board made it out safely and only suffered minor injuries.
Paramedics transported all four occupants, composed of one pilot and three passengers, to Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment.
“I’m glad that everyone made it out alive, but it was very shaken and felt very devastating to see that,” said Velve.
“It’s devastating, and you just don’t take life for granted,” said Michael.
“All glory to God,” said Eddie. “Glad that they’re all safe.”
