Plane Crashes Into Sanford Homes, 5 Confirmed Dead
Wednesday, July 11, 2007 12:35:35 AM
Tools: E-mail | Print | Feedback |

Slideshow - 16 images
">">">">">">">">">">">">">">">
Video
Plane Crash Press Conference
Plane Crashes Into Sanford Homes
911 Call About Plane Crash
Crash Coverage
Additional Information
Send News 13 Your Pictures, Video
Crash Location
NASCAR-Related Aviation Crashes
Police have identified the five people who perished when a Cessna 310 airplane crashed into a home in Sanford. One of the dead is Dr. Bruce Kennedy, the husband of NASCAR official Lesa France Kennedy.

Two houses were set on fire around 8:50 a.m. when the plane crashed on WillowBay Ridge Street in the Preserves at Lake Monroe subdivision. Fire officials said that the plane hit one home and then fuel spread the flames to a second home. A third home was reportedly damaged by debris.

The crash took place about three miles from the Orlando Sanford International Airport. A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the Cessna was on a trip from Daytona to Lakeland when the pilot reported smoke in the ****pit. It attempted to land at the airport, but crashed just north of its target. The Cessna holds up to six people, Bergen said.

The plane had filed a number of flight plans for flights Tuesday morning -- from Daytona Beach to Lakeland, Lakeland to Melbourne, Melbourne to Titusville, and from Titusville back to Daytona Beach.

At Least Five Perish In Crash, Fire
The Seminole County Fire Chief, Leeanna Raw, said two adults and two children died on the ground and in the airplane.

Dr. Kennedy and Michael Klemm, a senior captain with NASCAR Aviation, were in the plane when it crashed, NASCAR confirmed.

The aircraft is registered to Competitor Liaisons Bureau Inc. of Daytona Beach, which is connected to the Bill France, Jr. family. France family members are listed as officers for that company.

On the ground, Janice Joseph, 24 and her 6-month-old son, Joseph Woodard III died in a home at 356 WillowBay Ridge St. Joseph Louis Woodard, 32, was not physically injured.

At 354 WillowBay Ridge, 4-year-old Gabriela Dechat was killed in the crash. Dechat's mother, Milagros Dechat, 34, and father, Peter Dechat, 36 were injured and taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in serious condition. Daniel Dechat, 10, was transported to the Cincinnati Burn Center after sustaining third degree burns over 80 to 90 percent of his body.

A witness to the crash said he or she saw the boy jump out of the second story of the home that was hit. The witness said the boy was so badly burned that nobody could touch him.

The witness also said the boy's father and mother both jumped from the home and the father attempted to go back into the burning house, screaming that there was a 4-year-old toddler still trapped inside.

A firefighter who lived in the neighborhood rushed into the house to rescue the boy and his father.

Ryan Cooper is a firefighter and paramedic with Lake Mary Fire Department. He happened to have his bunker gear at home and put it on to run into the burning house.

But Cooper did not have his breathing apparatus and was unable to go deep into the smoke-filled house to see if he could find the girl.

Cooper was taken to the emergency room at Central Florida Regional Hospital for smoke inhalation.

Speedway Releases Statement
The International Speedway Corporation released a statement Tuesday about the deadly plane crash.

John Saunders, the executive vice president of ISC said, "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the plane crash that occurred this morning in Sanford, FL. We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Bruce Kennedy and others that have been lost or injured in this tragic accident. We ask that you respect the privacy of the Kennedy and France families while they deal with this terrible loss."


Crash Increases Need For Blood Supplies
The Florida’s Blood Centers asked the Seminole County Sheriff's Office to spread the word that there is an urgent need for blood because of Tuesday's crash.

On Tuesday, the Bloodmobile will be at the Seminole Towne Center Mall from noon to 6 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Bloodmobile will be at the main Seminole County Sheriff's Office and Public Safety Building at 100 Bush Blvd. in Sanford, just south of Lake Mary Boulevard on U.S. Highway 17/92, in front of the pond from 9 a.m. to noon.

It will also be at the John E. Polk Correctional Facility at 211 Bush Blvd. in Sanford from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

my respect and prayers for the families.
It was about 2 miles from where i live.

humm it most be hard, just to think about something like that happening around you, is bad enough when you hear about it on the news!! sorry to the families!!