By Shannon Lukens.
A plane crash claimed the life of a Steamboat Springs man Monday. 76-year-old Hugh Alexander was killed in the crash, which happened north of Pierre, South Dakota Monday. 59-year-old Eric Meyer was the pilot of the single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage, which was headed home to Steamboat. Meyer was hospitalized and released. Officials are investigating.
Flight Aware Page for the flight
Here is what was reported from the Hughes County Sheriff’s Office in South Dakota.
The Hughes County Sheriff’s Office has concluded the initial investigation into a plane crash that occurred just north of Pierre Monday afternoon.
A single engine Piper Malibu Mirage piloted by Eric Meyer, age 59 of Steamboat Springs, Colorado departed the Pierre Regional Airport around 4 p.m. CDT Monday afternoon enroute to Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
At approximately 4:11 p.m. CDT the pilot radioed Air Traffic Control and reported engine failure and that the aircraft would be returning to the Pierre Airport.
Local emergency crews were immediately dispatched. At approximately 4:15 p.m. the pilot called 9-1-1 via cell phone and reported the aircraft had crashed northwest of Pierre.
Emergency responders located the downed aircraft in rough terrain roughly one mile north of Pierre and a half mile west of Highway 1804. Both the pilot and a passenger were transported by ambulance to the hospital.
The passenger, 76 year old Hugh Alexander of Steamboat Springs, Colorado was killed in the crash. Meyer was briefly hospitalized and has since been released.
Federal Aviation Administration investigators arrived at the scene early Tuesday afternoon. The crash site has now been released and the Sheriff’s initial investigation has been concluded.
Federal officials continue to investigate the exact cause of the crash.
Hughes County Sheriff Patrick Callahan cautioned that the crash site is located on private property and trespassers face potential charges.
The Hughes County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by Hughes County Coroner Greg Hall, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
The Executive Director of Integrated Community has announced she is resigning. Nelly Navarro has been with Integrated Community in Steamboat Springs for four and a half years, and she helped oversee its expansion into Craig. Navarro and her family plan to move to Argentina to be closer to family. The board will begin the search for a new Executive Director.
Stay Morgan and Sarah Colding in Moffat County.
It is election season. You should have received your ballot by now. Are you registered to vote? Stacy Morgan is the Moffat County Clerk and Recorder.
“They can go to GoVoteColorado.com They can check their status of their voter registration there. Or they can make changes to their address to say if they’ve moved or not.”
You can also stop in to the Clerk and Recorder’s office in your county, and they’ll help you check your voter status as well.
Atmos Energy has donated $32,000 to help keep Coloradans warm through its Fueling Safe and Thriving Communities program. This month, $3000 in energy assistance funds were distributed to the Community Budget Center in Craig and LiftUp of Routt County received $5,000.
The Rio Blanco Herald Times has received tremendous support after sending out a plea last week that they were going to have to stop printing the paper. The Herald started 138 years ago out of Meeker. Those who run the paper asked for advertisers to step forward, and for donations, and they raised about $33,000, so they can continue. They just put out the 7,238th edition of the Herald.
Craig Fire Rescue is hiring for the 2024 Recruit Academy, according to a social media post. Applications are available at the Fire Station, from any firefighter, or on their website at craigfirerescue.org. Applications are due by Nov. 3.
Routt County 4H held an open house last night, to introduce kids and families to the local 4H program. Tami Eggers is the 4H Specialist for Routt County.
“It’s a program that really focuses on what kids want to do so if they have an interest, we have a project for them. And if we need to find a leader to support them, we will do that. It teaches life skills. Kids love it.”
There was also a petting zoo with goats, a chicken, a rabbit, and a dog.
There is a QR Code that has more details. You can enroll online at co.4honline.com There is a $40 annual enrollment fee. More information is at rc4h@co.routt.co.us Or stop by their offices at 136 6th Street, Suite 101, in the historic Routt County Courthouse annex in Steamboat Springs.
KIDS AND FAMILIES LEARN ABOUT ROUTT COUNTY 4H AT OPEN HOUSE
Colorado State Patrol says the most common citations among teen drivers are speeding, careless driving, and not wearing a seatbelt. CDOT urges parents to get involved so that your teenager doesn’t become another heartbreaking statistic. More than 16,000 teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 have been involved in crashes in Colorado so far this year.
HERE ARE THE STATS ON TEEN DRIVERS
We are getting really close to Halloween and there are haunted houses, and trunk or treat, and Witches Night Out all over the Yampa Valley. We have a big list on our website. Look for the graphic with the three pumpkins to see everyone happening. The fun starts Thursday.
The Steamboat Sailors Soccer Team plays at home tonight, in the first round of the CHSAA State Playoffs. The Sailors face off against Erie at 6 p.m. at Gardner Field. There is a cost to get in since it is a CHSAA event. Listen to the game on KTYV 105.7 Sports on FM, and watch the game through a link on our website.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar on our website.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.