Investigators Probe CHP Plane Crash; Funeral Services Announced For Pilot
The investigation continues into the deadly plane crash that claimed the life of a CHP pilot Friday.
NewsChannel 3 was the first to break this story on Friday night.
Officer Danny Benevides who was based out of Thermal was killed when he crashed a Cessna 206 while on speed detail along State Route 86. The plane went down in the Anza-Borrego area — southwest of the Salton Sea.
Funeral services will take place Friday, May 13 at 11am at the New Venture Christian Fellowship in Oceanside.
Last Friday, rescue crews had a hard time getting to the crash site since it was in rugged mountainous terrain.
“When we heard on Friday that the plane was missing, it was very disheartening,” said California Highway Patrol Lieutenant Paul Schroeder. “We were hopeful that he was going to be found alive, but it took about 6 hours I guess when he was last heard from til when he was discovered.”
Lieutenant Schroeder was among more than 50 officers that played in a golf tournament Monday in Indian Wells to raise money for the CHP’s 11 – 99 Foundation. The foundation helps the families of fallen officers and also provides college scholarships.
Danny Benevides was 39 years old. He leaves behind a wife and a 9 year old daughter.
