Girl, 7, Walks Away From Plane Crash That Kills 4

She made it to a home in Kentucky, where she asked for help
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 3, 2015 5:30 AM CST
Girl, 7, Walks Away From Plane Crash That Kills 4
File photo of a Piper PA-34 plane.   (Shutterstock)

A 7-year-old girl survived the crash of a small plane in Kentucky that killed the other four people on board, and she managed to walk to a nearby home for help, say police. Police haven't identified her or her relationship to those killed, but the resident of the home in remote Lyon County tells NBC News the sad details: "She told me that her mom and her dad were dead, and she was in a plane crash, and the plane was upside down," says Larry Wilkins, 71. "She asked if she could stay here. I said, 'Honey, what can I do for you?' I got a wash cloth and cleaned her up. And of course called 911."

Authorities say the victims were Marty Gutzler, 49; Kimberly Gutzler, 45; their daughter Piper, 9; and Sierra Walder, 14, Piper's cousin, all from Nashville, Ill. They were flying from Florida to Illinois when their small plane, a Piper PA-34, went down shortly after the pilot reported engine trouble, reports CNN. The wreckage was found about 10 miles away from a local airport. The lone survivor was being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. "I felt so sorry for her, tears come to my eyes," says Wilkins. "Seven years old. Brave little girl." (More Kentucky stories.)

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