1 Killed In Plane Crash By 210 Freeway In Sylmar

SYLMAR, CA — A small plane crashed narrowly missing the Foothill (210) Freeway and killingthe pilot in the Sylmar area Wednesday.

Los Angeles firefighters were searching for additional victims in the wreckage. At least two freeway lanes closed to accommodate emergency vehicles responding to the crash.

The crash occurred at about 12:30 p.m. near Sayre Street, said Margaret Stewart of the Los Angeles Fire Department. The plane had just departed from the Whiteman Airport in Pacoima and struck a bank of trees before hitting the ground just shy of the westbound lanes of the freeway. The plane crashed into the ground less than 30 feet from the busy freeway.

"After a thorough search of all void spaces in the aircraft, firefighters did not locate any other victims," Stewart said in a statement about an hour after the crash. "One person determined dead in the aircraft."

Firefighters quickly contained a small fuel leak, Stewart said.

"There was no fire resulting from the crash," Stewart said. "The NTSB is responding and will be the agency for any questions regarding the aircraft and the circumstances leading to the crash."

The circumstances of the crash were under investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.