Former Auburn Mayor Killed in Airplane Crash
An airplane crash on April 18 just northwest of the Auburn Municipal Airport claimed the life of the former mayor who recently resigned his post and injured another person onboard. The pilot of the plane was identified as Dr. Bill Kirby, age 72, who resigned on Monday after making a political comment. A spokesman for the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said that the fatal accident happened a few minutes after 11:00 in the morning.
Airplane Crash Details
The plane crashed in a field near Auburn Airport and caught on fire, leaving a large area of debris, which hampered Cal Fire from reaching the wreckage. The other individual on board the plane was identified as Jeff Raimundo, a political consultant. It was reported that Dr. Kirby was flying the single-engine plane when it crashed and had been licensed to pilot an aircraft since 2009. Raimundo was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Investigation to Be Conducted
Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board and the team for Critical Accident Investigation from the County Sheriff’s Office will be working together virtually to determine how the accident occurred. Investigators with the NTSB will not personally be coming to the crash site because of the ongoing pandemic.
Tragic Loss to the Community
Dr. Bill Kirby served as an Auburn City Councilman and was a local urologist known to many in the area. He worked as a physician with “Flying Doctors,” who are medical professionals who fly to help those who need medical, optical, and dental care.
Plane Crashes Near Auburn Airport
The April 18 plane crash that killed Dr. Kirby and injured his passenger is the fourth that has occurred near the airport in Auburn in the past year. A plane crash back in February due to engine failure killed a father and his son. Two other plane accidents happened in May, causing only minor injuries.
Common Causes of Airplane Accidents
The following are the most common reasons an airplane accident occurs:
- Mechanical defects
- Pilot error
- Weather conditions
- Mistakes made by air traffic control
- Runway maintenance
How to Help When Someone Has Experienced a Loss
Losing a loved one is tragic, and there are ways friends, coworkers and other family members can help during this trying time. Some of those ways include:
- Listening while a grieving person talks about their loss. They may express confusion, anger and disbelief. However, grief is a process that can take a long time to resolve, and talking about their loved one is normal and healthy.
- Offer to run errands, babysit, mow the grass, and do other chores. People in grief are submerged in their feelings, and help around the home or with errands can help ease their burden.
- Bring over food, order it from a restaurant, or take the family members out to eat. Grieving people often neglect to eat, although they need all their strength to handle the situation.
- Accompany the person who lost their loved one to help make the funeral and burial arrangements. This can be one of the most difficult tasks a person has to do. Having someone else along to provide emotional support can be welcome.
Help From an Experienced Airplane Accident Lawyer
Our office works closely with investigators from the NTSB and other sources to determine if negligence was the cause of your loved one’s death in an airplane accident. By gathering the evidence, it can provide the basis for a wrongful death claim, which enables the family of the decedent to collect compensation. Although this does not alleviate the grief and suffering of family members, it can help them avoid the financial problems caused by the death of their loved one.
Auburn Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Auburn wrongful death lawyer. If you believe your loved one died due to the negligent actions of another individual or entity, I may be able to help and offer my free and friendly advice. You can reach me at (530) 392-9400 and at (800) 404-5400. I will also respond to your message if you fill out the form online.
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For 38 years, I’ve helped Auburn residents get the compensation they deserved in traffic collisions, airplane crashes, wrongful deaths, and traumatic injuries.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/photos/sorrow-sadness-light-fire-fatigue-1228329/
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