GEM COUNTY (Idaho, US), Jan 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Two people are dead following a plane crash where the aircraft plummeted into the Payette River near Black Canyon Tuesday morning, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The sheriff’s office said based on preliminary information from first responders, the pilot clipped a powerline, then crashed onto the ice in the river.
Idaho Power separately confirmed to KTVB that the large-scale power outage was caused by an airplane hitting the power line that feeds electricity to Horseshoe Bend and the surrounding area.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Gem County Sheriff’s Office and Gem County Fire & EMS are on scene near Black Canyon.
Following the crash, the power outage was reported just before 11 a.m. More than 5,300 customers were affected by the outage in Crouch, Horseshoe Bend and Placerville. As of 2:45 p.m., Idaho Power has restored power to all customers who lost it during the outage.
Those impacted include schools in Horseshoe Bend, who on Facebook said the district has been in contact with Idaho Power. Representatives from the company told school officials that morning that power was estimated to be returned to the area between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday.
Since the school cannot heat buildings in the interim, classes have been canceled for the day. Students were sent home by 12:15 p.m., according to the district.
Secondary school students (grades 6-12) were allowed to return home without parental approval. The district said it is called elementary school parents to determine their transportation. — NNN-AGENCIES