A quiet stretch of woods off Hollywood Road turned into an active emergency scene Saturday morning after multiple 911 callers reported that a small plane might have gone down near Hollywood, Maryland. First responders moved along Hollywood Road, fanning out through dense trees in the Leonardtown to Hollywood corridor as they searched for wreckage.
According to FOX 5 DC, dispatchers began getting 911 calls about a possible downed aircraft around 9:04 a.m. Crews finally located the small plane at about 10:21 a.m. Maryland State Police are taking over the investigation, and officials told the outlet there was no known threat to public safety.
Wreckage Found on Private Property
Southern Maryland News Net reported that search crews eventually found the wreckage on private property off Hollywood Road, roughly a mile into the woods, and that one victim was confirmed dead at the scene. The outlet noted that Dorsey Park and the College of Southern Maryland were pressed into service as staging areas for fire and rescue units, and it warned drivers to expect extended delays along Hollywood Road.
State And Naval Units Called In
The BayNet reported that Maryland State Police Aviation Command's Trooper 7 helicopter and a Navy search and rescue helicopter from NAS Patuxent River were requested to help with the search. The site also noted that responders from both Calvert and St. Marys counties were staged nearby as the operation unfolded. FOX 5 DC added that officials had not released information on how many people were on board or the extent of any injuries.
Investigation Underway
Maryland State Police will lead the investigation into the crash. Authorities have not offered any possible cause and said additional details will be released as teams work the scene and piece together what happened. They have asked the public to stay clear of the area while recovery and investigative efforts continue.
This story will be updated as more information is released by officials. Drivers should plan for delays on Hollywood Road and consider alternate routes.
