Polk County, FL (September 29, 2018) – A single-engine plane crashed in Polk County and resulted in injuries to the pilot and his grandson on Friday afternoon, September 28. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office stated that 70-year-old William Gonzalez Jr., of Valrico, and his grandson, 21-year-old Joseph Berninghaus, of Tampa took off from Boca Raton.
Gonzalez was piloting the small Piper aircraft as the two men were traveling to Lakeland airport. Unfortunately, the single-engine plane went down in Lake Hancock at around 1:35 p.m. That crash occurred precisely in Bartow, an unincorporated area of Polk County. Smith Lane, Farm Road, and the 200 block of U.S. 98 S are the closest roadways to the crash site.
The sheriff’s office helicopter, patrol deputies from Polk County, and Polk County Fire Rescue along with specialty units from the Agricultural Crimes Unit responded to the scene and were able to reach both men involved in the crash. Gonzalez was transported to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, and Berninghaus was promptly treated and released. The FAA along with the NTSB is currently leading the investigation into this crash.
Approximately 500 people die each year in small plane crashes. While more people may likely survive a small plane crash than a crash in any other aircraft, the devastating effects of a Florida airplane accident can be felt by victims and their families.
We would like to offer our sympathies to the two victims of this accident as we hope for their full recovery from any injuries. We at Rubenstein Law understand that an accident has the potential to be tragic, and our experienced Florida accident attorneys are here for you to help ease the burdens that arise afterward. If you have been injured in a Florida accident, call us at 1-800-FL-LEGAL and let us put our knowledge to work for you.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the carnage and heartbreak that can be left behind for our clients and the public at large after a serious accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
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