BARTOW (970 WFLA) -- Only the pilot got hurt, when a small plane crashed into the parking lot of a church as Sunday morning services were going on inside.
Polk County Fire Rescue says the small plane crashed into a utility pole and an SSUV in the parking lot of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Griffin Road in Bartow. Five other vehicles also suffered damage. A man identified as the pilot is hospitalized with serious injuries at Lakeland Regional.
The pastor says about 300 members of the congregation heard a loud bang. Someone went outside to check it out and saw the wreckage.
Two registered nurses, Priscilla Sykes and Queen Morris, assisted the pilot until fire rescue arrived.
A small plane crashed into a utility pole and a vehicle in the parking lot of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church, which is located on Griffin Road off Old Bartow Eagle Lake Road in Bartow. One adult male was seriously injured and transported to the hospital. The injured patient is the pilot of the single engine aircraft. Polk County Fire Rescue was dispatched shortly after 12 noon on Sunday, June 11.
The pastor of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church said he and his congregation of approximately 300, were in the middle of worship when they heard a loud bang. Someone went outside to check it out and informed the church there was a plane crash in the parking lot.
Two registered nurses, Priscilla Sykes and Queen Morris, rushed out to assist the man in the aircraft. They started basic medical care until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived to take over advanced medical care.
The patient was transported to Bartow Municipal Airport, so Aeromed 4 could airlift him to Lakeland Regional Health.
The tail number for the aircraft is N592BC. Federal records show it's a single engine plane, a Cirrus SR22. The National Transportation Safety Board is carrying out an investigation.