MODESTO, Calif. — Update: 11:10 p.m.
The roadway is slowly reopening to traffic after a plane crash on Highway 99 in Modesto.
The crash happened around 7:48 p.m. on Highway 99 at Crows Landing Road. After crashing, the plane caught fire, but the pilot, identified as a 59-year-old man from Santa Cruz, was able to walk away from the crash with very minor injuries.
Rob Cox, a witness, saw the incident as the fire was still happening on the freeway.
"Both my wife and I are first aid certified and she really wanted to get out and help, but the thing was just engulfed in flames," said Cox. "You know all I could think of is we have our twin boys in the car and all I could think of was an extra explosion going off.”
Authorities shut the road down for hours, impacting southbound traffic.
"They got us off the freeway pretty quick. We were close enough to the situation that they had us turn around….we still can’t believe we saw that,” said Cox.
The crash itself involved a Piper Dakota, single-engine plane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane had reported a rough running engine and tried to divert to Modesto.
Update: 10:30 p.m.
Caltrans has confirmed that southbound Highway 99 is reopened to traffic at Crows Landing Road in Modesto.
Southbound Highway 99 has one lane open to traffic, but traffic is still backed up in the area.
Update: 9:53 p.m.
Officials continue to deal with a plane crash that has shut down Highway 99 in Modesto.
The crash involved a Piper Dakota, single-engine plane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the the plane had reported a rough running engine and tried to divert to Modesto.
However, the plane crashed onto Highway 99 and caught fire.
The pilot, identified as a 59-year-old man from Santa Cruz, was able to walk away from the crash with very minor injuries.
Original story:
A detour is set up as a plane crash has shut down traffic on Highway 99 in Modesto.
As a result, southbound Highway 99 has been closed to traffic going southbound at Crows Landing Road.
The plane was described as a small engine plane, and, according to officials with the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, the pilot of the plane is fine. While the sheriff's department said there were no injuries, however CHP said the pilot had very minor injuries.
Authorities said he was able to walk away from the crash.
No vehicles were hit and no one else was injured, however the plan did catch fire and burn after landing.
Authorities were told about the crash around 7:48 p.m.
CHP is handling the investigation and is working to reopen the roadway.
This is a developing story and more information will be provided when it becomes available.
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