ZAYRA GARZA:
00:00:42
Oh my God.
LILIA LUCIANO:
00:00:43
A busy highway in Laredo, Texas, became a scene of chaos and heroism late Tuesday night after a small plane crashed and burst into flames.
ZAYRA GARZA:
00:00:53
They're trying to get people out.
LILIA LUCIANO:
00:00:55
In this video, you can see the plane on its side engulfed in flames as police race against time, struggling to break the plane's windshield and even an exit door to free six people on board. They were screaming, trying to get tools to open the door or even to break the glass.
LILIA LUCIANO:
00:01:17
Zayra Garza told us she and her husband were driving home when they saw the fiery wreckage. She says her husband and several other drivers stopped and ran over to help. He told her there were children who appeared to be teenagers in the back. You can see her husband and others holding up the plane's heavy door as the trapped passengers finally start to emerge. As the smoke grows thicker, officers repeatedly step away coughing. We do have six souls that were inside of the aircraft. Regrettably and tragically, we do have to report that there is one decedent involved in this crash.
LILIA LUCIANO:
00:01:56
Laredo police investigator Jose Baeza said part of the plane hit one vehicle as it crashed to the ground. He did not say whether anybody inside the car was hurt.
ZAYRA GARZA:
00:02:06
It was very dramatic. It was crazy. A lot of commotion. Everybody, the fire department, the officers did an amazing job in just trying to save those people's lives. Those five people who survived were taken to a hospital and are in stable condition. Investigator Baeza also tells us that five officers were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. The NTSB is investigating the crash. Nate.
NATE BURLESON:
00:02:36
Lilia, thank you.
