DEL MAR, Calif. (KGTV) — A small aircraft landed on Interstate 5 in the San Diego area on Tuesday afternoon, California Highway Patrol confirmed.
The aircraft, a single-engine Piper PA-32, landed on Interstate 5 near Via De La Valle just after 12 p.m. and came to rest against the center freeway divider, according to CHP officer Jim Bettancourt. He added that while landing, the plane may have struck several vehicles.
"We basically broke the fall for the plane. Like it landed on the back of the car and then I think it must of like spun around because the car back there has like a wing in it," said Sarah Tribett, who was in a vehicle struck by the landing aircraft. The impact shattered the vehicle's back window and covered them in jet fuel. "We heard it and felt it everywhere. Like it shattered back there all the way into the front seats. It was all over us like I had glass in my mouth.
According to officials, the pilot and his passenger took off from Montgomery Field in Kearny Mesa and were flying over La Jolla, when the plane started having mechanical trouble. The pilot tried to land in a nearby field but was unable to make a landing.
Both the pilot and passenger were not injured. CHP said "several occupants of the vehicles struck" sustained minor injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital.
This story was originally reported by Mark Saunders on 10news.com.
