Plane strikes power line, crashes into car on US 281 in Burnet: DPS
BURNET, Texas - Texas DPS is investigating after a plane struck a power line and crashed onto US 281 in Burnet, striking a car on Sunday, Dec. 17.
A trooper was also involved in a separate crash with an SUV while responding to the plane crash.
DPS says the plane crash happened around 2:14 p.m. Dec. 17 on US 281 south of Delaware Springs Road. The plane had taken off from the Burnet airport before striking a power line along US 281 and crashing into the southbound lanes.
During the crash, the plane struck a passenger car. The plane was then towed from the highway back to the Burnet airport.
DPS says the FAA has been notified about the crash.
The car's driver was taken to a medical facility and released shortly after. The plane's pilot and passenger were taken to an Austin medical facility for burn injuries.
An eyewitness, who didn’t want to be identified, described how the pilot got his passenger out of the plane.
"He jumped up on that wing that was on fire. On fire. Somehow he got the door open and crawled over his wife," he said. "Picked her up with her clothes on fire, carried her and rolled her in the dirt and grass to put the fire out."
That same eyewitness, a former pilot, said the pilot’s quick thinking likely saved lives.
"He did exactly what you're taught to, and you're drilled and you never, ever turn back if you lose an engine on takeoff," he said. "In that case, there's a nice highway right there. I've got like almost 3,000 hours flying, and I don't think I could have done that."
(Ginger Westfall)
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Around 2:41 p.m. the same day, a DPS trooper was responding to the crash, traveling south on US 281 approaching the Delaware Springs Road intersection. DPS says because of the plane striking the power lines, the intersection's traffic signals were down.
As the trooper entered the intersection with lights and siren activated, an SUV with three occupants pulled into the intersection in the patrol vehicle's direct path, says DPS.
"The trooper just careened, you know, into that [SUV]. And it was really loud. It was explosive," said eyewitness Ginger Westfall.
The three in the SUV were taken to Dell Children's Hospital with minor injuries. The trooper was taken to Seton Highland Lakes Hospital in Burnet with minor injuries.
"That cruiser, I did not see lights. I did not hear sirens. He was just coming down the wrong side of the road, going to the crash scene, which is understandable," said Westfall.
DPS claims the trooper did have their lights and siren on, and that the SUV pulled out into the trooper’s way.
"I'm just thanking God, you were there, because I was praying for that boy. ‘Lord, please heal them now. Don't ruin this Christmas for any of these families, the trooper or anyone," said Westfall.