Officials with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office said a deputy and a pilot who worked for the sheriff's office were killed in a plane crash in Springville on Wednesday afternoon.
In a press conference, Officials identified the two people killed as 52-year-old Scott Ballantyne, the sheriff deputy and 45-year-old James Chavez, the pilot.
Tulare Sheriff's Pilot James Chavez & Deputy Scott Ballantyne who were killed in tonight's plane crash. pic.twitter.com/dkwa2Xoco3
— Veronica Miracle (@VeronicaABC30) February 11, 2016
FAA officials said at around 4:15 p.m., a single-engine GMBH plane was crushed under unknown circumstances around 10 miles east of Porterville.
The plane was caught fire after crashing, according to the FAA.
The FAA and NTSB is investigating this crash.
Tulare: State Route 190 CLOSED near Springville due to plane crash.
— Caltrans District 6 (@caltransdist6) February 11, 2016
According to CHP's Central Division, SR190 was closed in both directions for hours due to this crash.
#LakeSuccess
An apparent plane crash has caused
SR190 to be closed both EB/WB,
from east of SuccessValleyDr & PleasantOakDr
No ETA to OPEN— CHP Central Division (@CHPCentralDiv) February 11, 2016
