Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)
A small plane crashed on I-15 in Weber County, Utah today, killing four people who were on board. Traffic was backed up for miles after the crash on the northbound side of the Interstate near Riverdale Road. The cause of the crash is still being determined.
The names of the four people who were on the plane have just been released by the Department of Public Safety, KUTV reported. There were two married couples on the plane. Layne Clarke, 48, and Diana Clarke, 46, from Taylor, Utah were two of the victims. The other two victims were Perry Huffaker, 45, and Sarah 42, a married couple from West Haven, Utah.
The single-engine plane was a Beech A36 Bonanza that took off from Ogden-Hinckley Airport, KSL reported. It crashed just a half-mile away from where it took off.
One witness told KUTV that the plane was traveling south and it was about 300 feet in the air, trying to gain altitude. The engine made a loud sound and dropped vertically toward the Interstate. April Demetropolis told KSL that the plane just seemed to come out of nowhere and nose-dived into the middle of the freeway. The plane did not hit any cars on the freeway.
Warning: Some photos and videos may be disturbing.
Officials said four people were on the plane and “there’s not much left,” KSL 5 TV reported:
First look from @KSLChopper5 of plane crash on I-15 in Riverdale. All NB lanes closed. Casualties reported. @KSL5TV @kslcom @kslnewsradio
Here is a photo of how backed up the traffic was, for miles near 339:
Expect huge delays on I-15 in Weber County. Views from @KSLChopper5 show northbound traffic backed up for miles near milepost 339 @KSL5TV
All northbound lanes were closed on the interstate and only one southbound lane was open.
Crash & car fire with lots of black Smoke. NB 15 Riverdale Rd blocking traffic. KSLRikki
A truck driver who witnessed the crash shared what he saw:
Northbound I-15 was closed at 5600 S. and drivers are being advised to avoid the area. Officials are unclear when the roads will open again, Fox 13 reported.
PHOTOS: Fatal I-15 plane crash in N. Utah. t.co/S6SPpjHjYU
The crash was devastating.
Randy Paulson, who witnessed the crash, told KUTV: “It was a big black solid red ball of fire. There’s no way you could’ve survived it.” The plane crashed around 1 p.m. in the median.
Another witness, Kat Yoder, talks about the crash:
Federal investigators are on their way to determine the cause of the crash.
Federal crash investigators at scene, or soon will be, of plane crash on I-15 in Riverdale.
Meanwhile, another incident occurred on I-15 northbound at 2100 south near Spaghetti Bowl. A car was on fire, causing delays. This is not related to the airplane crash, but a separate incident:
TRAFFIC: Car fire on I-15 NB at 2100 South near spaghetti bowl. 📷: @jortron #KUTV2News #SLC
This is a developing story.