Three men have been identified as the victims in Thursday’s small plane crash near St. Ignatius.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell identified the victims as 59 year-old Timothy Arnold, 49 year-old Grant Weythman and 65 year-old Allen Eicher.

“Lake County 9-1-1 took a report of a plane crash near Pinehaven Lane,” said Sheriff Bell. “Emergency responders determined that a single-engine Beechcraft aircraft had struck a power line and landed upside down in a hayfield. With the use of the landowner’s backhoe the aircraft was lifted up to allow access to the respondents.”

Bell said all three victims were residents of Evansville, Indiana.

“The deceased were all transported to the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula to determine the exact cause of death,” he said. “Representatives of the FAA are currently at the crash site conducting the investigation along with the Lake County Sheriff/Coroner’s Office. The National Transportation Safety Board is sending an investigator from California who is expected to arrive later today.”

(photo courtesy of NBC Montana)

 

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