Plane crashes into parked vehicle in Polk County

A small plane crashed into a vehicle in a church parking lot Sunday, according to Polk County Fire Rescue.

The crash happened just after noon at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on Griffin Road in Bartow.

The plane also hit a utility pole.

The pilot was seriously injured, officials said. He was transported Lakeland Regional Health for treatment.

The church’s pastor said he and his congregation of about 300 were in the middle of worship service when they heard a loud bang.

“Boom, lights flickered, we thought it was thunder actually, nobody moved, said associate pastor Kenneth Stephens.

Larry Granger went outside to check and found the plane in the parking lot.

“We just couldn’t stand there and see him sitting in there, fuel leaking, we had to do something,” said Granger.

Two registered nurses at the church, Priscilla Sykes and Queen Morris, administered basic medical care to the pilot until Polk County Fire Rescue arrived.

“It’s a nursing instinct,” said Morris. “Jump in like you want to help someone, and I didn’t even think twice about it. I just ran.”

Morris said she continued to ask the pilot questions to keep him awake.

“He told sister Sykes that the plane had some trouble and he purposely tried to miss our church, so we’re grateful,” said Stephens.

The National Transportation Safety Board is conducting an investigation.

This story was originally published June 11, 2017 at 11:16 PM with the headline "Plane crashes into parked vehicle in Polk County."