The University of Maine has identified the three people killed in a plane crash in Owls Head Friday as two current students and a 2011 alumnus.
According to a news release posted on their website Saturday night, UMaine identified the victims as 22-year-old David Cheney, of Beverly, Mass.; 23-year-old Marcelo Rugini, a foreign exchange student who lived in Nobleboro, Maine, but is originally from Brazil, and 24-year-old William "B.J." Hannigan III, of South Portland.
“Friday night, the University of Maine community lost three outstanding young men,” said University of Maine President Paul W. Ferguson. “In their leadership and involvement in the UMaine community, they touched the lives of students, faculty and staff. At this difficult time, our thoughts are with their families and friends, near and far.”
The Cessna 172 plane crashed into a wooded area around 5 p.m. Friday. Investigators say a truck driving across the runway hit the plane. The plane made it about 300 feet in the air before it crashed into a wooded area and burst into flames.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office says the man driving the truck that hit the plane was 62-year-old Stephen Turner, of Camden. He is expected to be OK.
Investigators say Turner is also a pilot and was leaving the Knox County Regional Airport in his pickup truck when the crash happened.
According to the release, Cheney was the president of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and a business major at UMaine. Rugino was studying economics. Hannigan graduated from UMaine in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. Rugino and Hannigan are also members of Lambda Chi Alplha.
UMaine is making counselors available to students, faculty, and staff.
The FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
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