4 injured after plane crashes at Pomona Dragstrip during NHRA Finals
Four people were injured after a small plane crashed at the Pomona Fairgrounds on Sunday.
The crash happened at around 11:10 a.m. near the 2700 block of Fairplex Drive which is adjacent to the end of the runway at the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
It's unclear what caused the crash, but firefighters say the pilot and three occupants of the plane were injured in the crash.
They were all hospitalized two with critical injuries and two with moderate injuries that were not considered life-threatening, according to the Pomona Police Department.
"The airplane struck several vehicles on the ground, but no bystanders were struck or injured," a statement from police said.
Firefighters were already at the location when the crash happened.
"It's one of those calls, one in a million, being on scene," said Los Angeles County Fire Department's Jonathan Torres. "I know they became concerned when they saw the low altitude the plane was displaying and immediately called when they noticed it was going to or had touched down on a crash landing."
The incident occurred during the National Hot Rod Association Finals, which drew a large crowd to the area. The event was placed on an indefinite hold due to the crash but races were expected to resume at around 1 p.m., according to the NHRA website.
"We are investigating an apparent small plane crash near the dragstrip in Pomona while it was apparently attempting to land at nearby Brackett Field Airport on Sunday," said a statement from the NHRA. "Our thoughts are with everyone involved in this incident."
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident. They reported that the plane is a single-engine Piper PA-32.
Cleanup crews were also called to the scene to clear the jet fuel that spilled onto the pavement as a result of the crash.