A small plane crashed in a lake southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, and all seven people on board are presumed dead, authorities said.
According to Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson Arlene Salac, a Cessna C501 with seven people on board crashed in Percy Priest Lake at around 11 a.m. after departing from the Smyrna Rutherford County Airport, WKRN reported.
Update 6:30 p.m. EDT May 30: Actor Joe Lara, who starred in the 1996 television series, “Tarzan: The Epic Adventures,” was one of the seven people killed in Saturday’s crash, according to Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. He was 58.
Lara’s wife, author and faith-based diet program founder Gwen Lara, was also involved in the crash, along with five others. WSMV reported.
Born in San Diego, California, on Oct. 2, 1962, Joe Lara is best known for playing the character of Tarzan in the CBS television movie “Tarzan in Manhattan” in 1989 and its spin-off series, “Tarzan: The Epic Adventures” from 1996 to 1997, Variety reported. Lara’s other credits include the action films “American Cyborg: Steel Warrior” (1993), “Steel Frontier” (1995), “Warhead” (1996), “Armstrong” (1998) and “Doomsdayer” (2000). He transitioned from acting to country music in the early 2000s, releasing the album “Joe Lara: The Cry of Freedom” in 2009.
Lara and his wife were residents of Brentwood, Tennessee, along with the other occupants of the plane, WSMV reported.
Joe Lara, the star of TV’s Tarzan: The Epic Adventures, died Saturday with his wife and five others in the crash of a small jet near Nashville, authorities said. He was 58. https://t.co/s3yx9CJseb
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 30, 2021
Update 11:22 p.m. EDT May 29: According to WSMV, Rutherford County officials identified the people on the plane as Brentwood residents William J. Lara, Gwen S. Lara, Jennifer J. Martin, David L. Martin, Jessica Walters, Jonathan Walters, and Brandon Hannah. All are presumed dead.
Rutherford County Fire Rescue officials said in a 9 p.m. CDT briefing that the effort has turned from rescue to recovery, WKRN reported. Officials will continued operations through the night, the television station reported.
Original report: One person died Saturday after a small jet crashed in a lake southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, authorities said.
The plane crashed near the Fate Sanders Boat Ramp, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Bill Miller told CNN via email. The ramp is about 30 miles southeast of Nashville.
Rutherford County officials said the aircraft was headed to Palm Beach International Airport in South Florida, WZTV reported.
Multiple agencies on scene of a small jet that crashed into Percy Priest Lake around 11:00 a.m. FAA & NTSB en route.
— Rutherford County Fire Rescue (@RCFireRescue) May 29, 2021
Dive Teams determining extent of crash site, examining the debris field, & conducting search & rescue.
Boaters and private aircraft urged to stay clear of area. pic.twitter.com/T5DjH3ozBr
The identities of the people on board the plane have not been released, according to WSMV.
The National Transportation Safety Board is in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates, FAA officials said.
The Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency is assisting local agencies, WZTV reported.
Search and rescue operations were expected to continue Saturday night, Capt. Joshua Sanders of Rutherford County Fire Rescue told CNN.
“I think the situation itself is probably the most difficult part, dealing with the potential impact that this has on family and the community at large,” Sanders said. “Our crews are working very hard, very diligently, all the agencies are working really well together.”
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