Valdecir De Oliveira dies in fatal Payson emergency plane landing incident
Fatal Payson emergency plane landing claims the life of Valdecir De Oliveira, 58 – Obituary
Valdecir De Oliveira, a 58-year-old resident of Santaquin, Utah, tragically lost his life Monday night when a small plane made an emergency landing on Interstate 15 near Payson.
The Utah Highway Patrol reported that the 2017 Cessna 172 Skyhawk, experiencing mechanical failure, landed in the northbound lanes near the Payson exit at milepost 250 around 8:08 p.m. After the aircraft safely touched down, vehicles stopped behind it, and several individuals attempted to push the plane off the road.
A Dodge pickup truck driven by De Oliveira approached the stationary traffic and was unable to stop in time, colliding with four vehicles and pushing them into the aircraft. De Oliveira sustained fatal injuries in the crash.
Several others were hurt in the incident, with at least four individuals transported to local hospitals for injuries ranging from minor to serious.
The freeway was closed for approximately three hours as crews worked to clear the scene and remove the damaged plane, which was eventually towed away. Interstate 15 reopened around 11:30 p.m.
The tragic incident remains under investigation, and further details will be provided as they become available.