Drivers on a busy Laredo highway were suddenly thrown into a real-life disaster scene Wednesday when a small plane crashed onto the roadway, halting traffic as people sprinted toward the wreckage. Dramatic bystander video shows rescuers trying to smash open the cockpit window to reach those trapped inside while cars pile up around them.
Video captures frantic rescue attempt
According to WBAL NewsRadio, which credited the Associated Press, the clip shows rescuers and nearby motorists using tools and even their bare hands in a desperate effort to break the cockpit window and pull occupants out. The short dispatch reported that the crash happened in Laredo and highlighted the video as the clearest look at the chaotic scene so far.
Where it happened
The incident unfolded in Laredo, the border city that hugs the Rio Grande. One of its main arteries, Loop 20, doubles as a major truck and commuter route and can make access for emergency crews tricky during busy hours, according to the TxDOT project overview.
Officials and investigation
The brief report from WBAL NewsRadio did not include any information on casualties or specific flight details, and local authorities had not released a full timeline at the time of reporting.
If federal investigators are called in, the National Transportation Safety Board typically takes the lead on on-site technical work for civil aviation accidents, according to the NTSB. Video from the highway could prove useful in reconstructing what happened, and law enforcement officers often ask witnesses to share any footage to help investigators piece together an event.
We will update this story as authorities release more details.
