A twin-engine Piper PA-31 plane crashed onto a Texas highway Wednesday afternoon, striking three vehicles and injuring four people. The crash occurred in Victoria, a city about 150 miles southwest of Houston, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The incident happened near a highway overpass around 3 p.m. The impact split the aircraft into two pieces, leaving part of the wreckage atop one of the damaged vehicles. Emergency responders secured the area and transported the injured to local hospitals for treatment.
Victoria Police Deputy Chief Eline Moya confirmed that three individuals sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated locally. One person was transferred to a more advanced medical facility, while the pilot, the only person aboard the plane, was evaluated at the scene.
Eyewitness Tony Poynor described hearing the plane’s engine and watching as it wobbled before crashing about a quarter mile ahead. “It passed over the top of my truck. Then I saw it lose control,” he said. After the crash, Poynor approached the plane and found the pilot conscious but unable to be removed from the wreckage.
The FAA announced it will investigate the crash. The pilot’s name has not been released, and authorities have not provided additional details about the flight’s origin or destination.
This rare and dramatic accident has drawn significant attention in Victoria. Police expressed relief that no fatalities occurred, given the severity of the crash and the busy roadway where it took place.
