Four Dead After Planes Collide Above FL Lake

Daniel Urie

pennlive.com

(TNS)

A Carlisle man was killed on Tuesday afternoon when two small planes collided in Florida, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, from Carlisle, was one of four people killed in the crash, which occurred over Lake Hartridge around 2:04 p.m. in Winter Haven. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said there were two people in each plane.

In addition to Crawford, Faith Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven, a pilot/flight instructor with Sunrise Aviation and Zachary Jean Mace, 19, of Winter Haven, a student at Polk State College were killed in the crash.

Deputies are working to confirm the identity of a fourth deceased person, who was in the same plane as Crawford. The four people were the only occupants of the planes, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

“My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed in today’s crash,” Grady Judd, Polk County sheriff, said in a news release. “The NTSB and FAA will be investigating the cause and circumstances of the collision. Please keep the families in your prayers during this difficult and stressful time.”

©2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.