Plane which crashed on motorway killing one had landed on same road years before

A light aircraft which crashed on a motorway killing one person had apparently made an emergency landing on the same road 16 years ago. The claim was made by former major league baseball catcher Matt Nokes who said he used to own the plane. He said he had brought it down on the Interstate 15 freeway when the engine failed on its second flight in February 2000. Police also said they were aware of three other planes that have come down on the same stretch of motorway in the past decade. Mr Nokes said he sold his plane a number of years ago but also knew the current owner who crashed just outside Fallbrook, southern California on Saturday.

The plane went completely into the trunk and pushed the rear bumper almost into the rear passenger seat.

John Buchanan, spokesman for the North County Fire Protection District

After it came down it collided with a car, and a woman in the vehicle was killed. Pilot Dennis Hogge, 62, was seriously injured and four other people, including his female passenger, were also hurt. The black Nissan Altima sedan involved was parked on the hard shoulder of the highway at the time. It is understood the driver had stopped to synchronise a bluetooth device. Witnesses said the single-engine plane appeared to be having problems before it banked and came down. California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Parent said the Lancair IV landed on its belly and skidded about 250 feet before striking the rear of the vehicle. The impact crushed the back of the car, killing a 38-year-old San Diego woman in the back seat and injuring three others inside. The driver of the sedan suffered moderate injuries, and his other two passengers were expected to survive their injuries.

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