Two people have been killed after a private airplane went down just after takeoff from the Columbia airport.
The crash happened around 11am, near Springfield Road and Horseshoe Bend in Columbia.
Witnesses have said the aircraft´s engine was sputtering badly, prior to the crash.
After the crash, the wreckage burst into flames and started a brush fire.
Coroners have been called to the scene, and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration are on their way as well.
In addition, a Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Deputy was injured while responding to the plane crash.
The deputy´s car went down an embankment and hit a tree near Highway 49 and Parrotts Ferry Road.
The highway had been shut down, while emergency crews used the Jaws of Life to extricate the deputy from the burning vehicle.
There´s no word yet on the deputy´s condition following the accident.
Highway 49 is again open.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 4:29 pm