Two Killed After Fatal Plane Crash in South Lake Tahoe

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July 10, 2020
Edward Smith

Plane Crash Near South Lake Tahoe Kills Two

On Tuesday, July 7, 2020, a small plane crash near South Lake Tahoe left two people with fatal injuries. Naval Air Station Fallon has recently identified the decedents as the pilot, 53-year-old Cmdr. Christopher Joas, and passenger, 51-year-old Margaret “Peggy” McGuire. Updates on their condition have not been reported, and the accident remains under investigation at this time.

Accident Details

The accident occurred just prior to 3:30 p.m. in a forested area in unincorporated El Dorado County around two miles to the southwest of Lake Tahoe Airport. A small, blue-and-white, single-engine Cessna 172 went down for unknown reasons and crashed in the small community of Meyers located in the South Lake Tahoe Basin.

Officials from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office indicated that emergency responders arriving at the accident location found one of the plane’s occupants, Mr. Joas, had sadly suffered fatal trauma. The other occupant, Ms. McGuire, was found with major injuries and was transported to the Renown Hospital in Reno. Sadly, she passed away during hospitalization.

Investigation

According to reports, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are both investigating possible causes of the accident. However, no reports regarding likely factors have been mentioned by investigators. In many cases, incidents like this one happen because of manufacturing issues with the airplane or other non-pilot factors.

The Impact of a Deadly Crash

Families can be devastated by the sudden loss of a loved one. The initial stages of grief following a deadly accident can be hard to deal with and often involve intense, confusing emotions. While dealing with grief, many people feel overwhelmed and unable to keep up with their normal lives. During such a difficult period, it’s important to seek help from your friends, family, and community and do what you can to take care of yourself.

Sadly, many families aren’t able to spend time healing emotionally because of economic stress. The financial impact of a fatal accident can be severe. Many people lose access to their main source of income or to valuable household services like cooking, home repair, childcare, or cleaning. Furthermore, families are often shocked at the cost of burial and funeral services.

Getting The Help You Need

Fortunately, it is often possible for families in this situation to get help. Through filing a wrongful death claim, it’s possible to obtain the compensation that you need in order to cover the damages described above as well as obtain payments for non-economic losses related to personal suffering. Claiming wrongful death payments is often critical for families going through a very hard time.

However, at-fault parties often try to cover themselves and disclaim responsibility for the accident. In order to prevent this, it is vital to speak with a lawyer as soon as you can so that your attorney can get started working on your case.

More Articles from Ed A. Smith, South Lake Tahoe Wrongful Death Lawyer

South Lake Tahoe Wrongful Death Lawyer

I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe wrongful death lawyer. Accidents are often tragedies. For my free, friendly advice after a deadly accident, please reach out to me at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400.

I’ve been helping families in the Tahoe area with wrongful death and injury cases for 38 years. You can find my settlements and verdicts on my website and you can read my client reviews at:

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