The 45-year-old Eatonville resident was found dead inside the crashed plane, officials say
SKAMANIA, WA, (September 06, 2024) - A plane went down on Friday east of the Sunset Falls Campground, leaving an Eatonville passenger dead, according to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).
Jed Paul Kelly, a 45-year-old Eatonville resident, was killed after a plane crashed on Friday east of the Sunset Falls Campground in Skamania County, the Sheriff's Office said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the crash site and found the pilot, a 72-year-old man, down a steep ravine. That person was airlifted to Portland, Oregon, for advanced treatment. The passenger, 45-year-old Jed Paul Kelly, was found inside the plane wreckage. Tragically, he died from injuries sustained in the crash.
The SCSO, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.
No further information was available.
PLANE CRASH INVESTIGATION
During its investigation, authorities will examine if any other factors played a role in the plane crash. Pilot error, mechanical failure, and defective aircraft design and manufacturing can also cause airplane crashes.
The number of people killed in plane crashes in the U.S. increased by about 13 percent in 2018, according to the NTSB. Civil aviation fatalities rose from 347 in 2017 to 393 in 2018.
Candice Bond, an experienced aviation attorney, said in such cases, it is also imperative to have an investigation conducted by a seasoned lawyer to protect the family of a victim’s rights.
“Plane crashes are often complex, and many factors can play a role in these types of accidents,” said Bond, Managing Partner of Bond Legal.
WRONGFUL DEATH CLAIM
Pending the investigation, the family of Jed Paul Kelly may pursue a wrongful death claim. Family members of wrongful death victims often seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress following a catastrophic accident.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal.
“A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure the victim's their legal rights and best interests are protected.”
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(Candice Bond, Managing Partner, and Stefano Formica, Of Counsel, at Bond Legal, are the national legal analysts for Newsline. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).