4 dead after planes crash over Winter Haven lake, officials say

Four people have died in a plane accident involving two aircrafts colliding in mid-air over Winter Haven, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said.

An hours-long search, conducted via water and air, found the bodies of four people. Of the four, three were identified as: Faith Irene Baker, 24, of Winter Haven, a pilot/flight instructor with Sunrise Aviation; Zachary Jean Mace, 19, of Winter Haven, a student at Polk State College; and Randall Elbert Crawford, 67, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The Sheriff’s Office said deputies are working to confirm the identity of a fourth person.

“My heart goes out to the families and friends of those who were killed in today’s crash. The NTSB and FAA will be investigating the cause and circumstances of the collision. Please keep the families in your prayers during this difficult and stressful time,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.

All four victims were the only people in the planes, the Sheriff’s Office said.

At a press briefing, Polk County Chief of Staff Steve Lester said law enforcement and fire rescue officials were notified of the crash at 2 p.m. and responded to an area near the Winter Haven Regional Airport, where witnesses said they saw two planes crash above Lake Hartridge.

“As soon as we got here life saving efforts immediately started,” he said.

At the scene, one plane was partially submerged and another was 21-feet underwater.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the planes were a Piper J-3 Cub sea plane operated by Jack Brown’s Seaplane Base in Winter Haven and a Cherokee Piper 161 fixed-wing plane operated by Ormond Beach-based Sunrise Aviation on behalf of Polk State College.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating.

No other details were released.

[email protected]