One of three survivors of a commuter-plane crash that left three people dead climbed out of the wreckage and trekked several miles through thick woods and a heavy downpour to get help, authorities said.
Army Sgt. Dennis Lachut, 29, of Fort Lewis, Wash., apparently hitched a ride in a pickup truck after coming out of the forest at the Fort McClellan Army base, and helped rescuers find the wreckage more than five hours later."He fought some hard elements, and that's something to be commended," said Benny Hulsey, director of the Anniston rescue squad. "You've got to be in shock just going through that and then walking out of an isolated area not knowing which way was what."
Two pilots and four passengers were aboard the GP Express plane Monday when it went down in fog and rain on a flight from Atlanta to Anniston.
The Beechcraft C-99 slammed into a hill and burst into flames about eight miles from the Anniston Airport.
Lachut and the co-pilot were able to climb out and remove the other survivor, Hoehne said. Lachut then walked through the forest to find help, Hoehne said.