A surgeon and two children were killed after a plane crashed in Parker County, Texas over the weekend, according to officials.
Based on preliminary information shared with PEOPLE, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said a twin-engine Cessna 310 crashed near Poolville around 1:15 p.m. local time Sunday with three people on board.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the plane crashed in a pasture, The The wise county messenger. According to Flight Aware, the plane took off from Dimmit County Airport at 10:58 a.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Bridgeport Municipal Airport shortly after noon.
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The victims, who were pronounced dead at the scene, were identified as Dr. Heath Smith and two children, 6 and 8, according to The wise county messenger and Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
The Texas Department of Public Safety declined to say whether the children were Smith’s, but said The wise county messenger that all the passengers had “the same last name”. However, CBS affiliate KTVT reported that Paradise School officials confirmed that Smith and two of his children were killed in the crash.
Smith was operating the airport at the time, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
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Smith served as vice president of the school board for the Paradise Independent School District.
“Our hearts are devastated for the Smith family. Words cannot fully express the sorrow we feel for their loss,” school district Superintendent Will Brewer said in a statement shared with KTVT.
“The tragedy this family has endured is unimaginable. Dr. Smith has been a vital part of our school district as a former student, parent and board member,” added Brewer. “He was passionate in his love for Paradise ISD and his impact on the students and staff will be long lasting. Please pray for the Smith family.”
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Smith was born and raised in Paradise and attended Texas A&M University in College Station, according to his biography at My Bariatric Solutions, where he was employed.
He earned his MD and interned at the Virginia Tech/Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Va., according to a biography that said his areas of surgical practice include bariatrics, colonoscopy, colorectal and surgical oncology.
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The Texas Department of Public Safety, Paradise Independent School District and My Bariatric Solutions did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
An FAA and National Transportation Board investigation is ongoing.
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Source: HIS Education