A plane crashed into a UPS truck a few blocks from a high school in the San Diego, California area, killing at least two people.
The two-engine aircraft had been told by an air traffic controller to gain altitude just before it crashed into the truck and two houses on Monday, according to the Daily Mail.
An explosion from the impact killed the driver and injured two other people, who were hospitalized. Their injuries were not immediately confirmed, but local reports said they suffered burns.
Officials in the hours after the crash did not know how many people were aboard the small plane but said they think the injuries were ‘non-survivable’, said Santee Fire Department Battalion Chief Justin Matsushita, according to FOX 5.
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The first reports of the aircraft crash were at 12.15pm local time, according to scanner traffic.
The Santee Fire Department said crews transported the patients from the crash scene near the 9900 block of North Magnolia Avenue, FOX 5 reported. The injured people were evacuated by Jeremy and Greencastle Street in Santee.
Images shared on social media showed plumes of smoke billowing into the air near Santana High School, which is located about 20 miles northeast of San Diego at 9915 North Magnolia Avenue.
Santa High School in the midafternoon tweeted: ‘All Students are Secure. There was a plane crash 2 or 3 blocks away. We are currently in a “Secure Campus.”‘
Fire engines were seen dousing two homes appeared to be significantly damaged from the crash, SkyFOX footage showed.
A fire from the crash completely destroyed at least one building, NBC 7 reported. Several buildings close by also had damages from the fire.
One home was ‘well involved’ by flames and a second residence was also ablaze, Santee Fire Chief John Garlow said. In addition, a box truck possibly for deliveries was scorched.
The sheriff’s department requested that residents stay away from the area as first responders worked the scene.
A San Diego County spokesperson said the aircraft was a Cessna 340A and that it was traveling from Yuma, Arizona, to Montgomery Gibbs Executive Airport in Kearny Mesa.
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