Anthony Yates
A 13-year-old has died, and three others were injured after a small plane crashed into a national forest. Authorities urged the public to stay away from the area owing to an active investigation.
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What happened: According to a news release by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred on September 1, at around 4:57 PM. The Sheridan Law Enforcement Center received reports of “possible lost or injured subjects” in the Big Mountain area inside Bighorn National Forest.
- Additional reports revealed that a small plane had crashed in the area, prompting a response from multiple agencies. First Flight, which is an air medical transport unit, flew over the potential crash site. They confirmed there was evidence of a plane crash West of Big Mountain.
- Authorities set up a command post at the Steamboat Point parking lot. Rescue teams located the crash site on the north end of the Walker Prairie Trail. They found four people nearby, all from the same family, near the wreck of a single-engine aircraft.
Details About The Plane Crash Remain Unclear
1 dead and multiple injured: The news release explains that emergency services found a 13-year-old female, but she was pronounced deceased at the scene. An 11-year-old male, a 54-year-old male, and a 53-year-old female all suffered serious injuries.
- Medical staff stabilized all three survivors before a National Guard helicopter transported them away from the crash site. Authorities took one person to Sheridan Memorial Hospital. Rescuers took the other two to a hospital in Billings, Montana.
- Many details surrounding the crash remain unclear. Per the Idaho Statesman, the FAA could not provide information on the crash. They reportedly said the incident occurred during the aircraft’s initial climb. The plane then “crashed under unknown circumstances.”
- The outlet also notes that a GoFundMe has been set up for the family. “Around 5 PM on Monday, Cindy, Earl, Amelia, and Aeron were flying home from Wyoming when their plane went down,” the fundraiser explains.
- The GoFundMe notes that Earl will need major reconstructive surgery and that Cindy remains in a critical condition. “They will need help with medical bills, household bills, travel costs, and funeral costs. Please give what you can to help. Every donation helps,” the post concludes.
