A small plane crashed into a field in central Illinois on Saturday, April 19, after it reportedly struck power lines. Four people in total, two men and two women, all from Wisconsin, died as a result.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to CBS News, the crash occurred at around 10:15 a.m. on April 19 on County Line Road in Trilla, Illinois. As per the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the single-engine plane, a Cessna 180, reportedly struck some power lines. Moments later, it crashed into the Illinois field. A preliminary report will be made available by the NTSB in 30 days, as per WCIA.
Following initial reports of the crash, the four victims were identified. They are Ross Nelson, 46, Michael and Courtney Morrow, 48 and 36, respectively, and Raimi Rundle, 45. All of them were from Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Crash Reaction And Investigation
While talking with CBS News, Kynnedi Goldstein details how she heard the crash on Saturday morning.
"I was sitting in my room, and I was getting ready to turn a show on, and all of a sudden I hear this noise," Goldstein said. "It's like the whole 'boom,' and then our power went out for a second, and then our generator kicked on."
"And I was just like, 'What?' So then I go out to our sunroom, and I look, and there's a huge pile of smoke. So I called my friend, and then we went down to the scene."
Images of the crash site show the burning remnants of the Cessna 180, spread across the Illinois field and road. At the time, the Coles County Sheriff's Office stated that the road would remain closed until Sunday as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the NTSB investigate the crash.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker addressed the plane crash via X, calling it "terrible news."
"My administration is monitoring the situation as we keep those impacted by the plane crash in our thoughts today," Pritzker wrote. "Thank you to the first responders who rushed to the scene. Please follow the guidance of officials as they provide assistance."
The previous night, on Friday, April 18, at around 8:15 p.m., a small plane crashed into a river in Fremont, Nebraska. Three people were killed as a result.
