A 70-year-old pilot remains hospitalized in critical condition after his small aircraft went down Monday morning in the parking area of a California auto parts retailer, fire department officials report.
Emergency responders received the crash report at approximately 11 a.m. at an O’Reilly Auto Parts location in Pacoima, a neighborhood in northern Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed.
Fire crews pulled the elderly man from the wreckage and transported him to a nearby medical facility where he remains in serious condition. Authorities verified that no passengers were aboard the aircraft and no additional people sustained injuries in the incident.
Images captured by area media outlets reveal the aircraft completely inverted in the store’s parking area, positioned mere feet from customer vehicles. The front section of the plane sustained significant damage in the impact.
The aircraft struck electrical power lines during the incident, prompting law enforcement to clear out surrounding businesses and homes as a precautionary measure, authorities reported.
