Two injured in Bartow County plane crash

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Credit: Shae Clanton

Two men were injured when a small plane crashed in a residential neighborhood in Bartow County Tuesday afternoon.

Bartow County authorities said the plane crashed around 1:50 p.m. near Milam Bridge and Euharlee roads in Euharlee.

WATCH: Plane crashes in Euharlee

Bonnie Griffith lives a tenth of mile from where the small plane crashed and said it was flying so low, she knew something was wrong.

"I believe we probably could have seen their faces, that’s how close they were," said Bonnie Griffith.

FAA officials said two people were aboard the small Cessna 172 aircraft when it went down. Euharlee Police Chief Lee New said the pilot was pinned under the wing when they arrived on the scene.

"The pilot was trapped in the plane and we, myself and another officer held the plane up until they could cut the steering yoke to get him out of the plane," said Euharlee Police Chief Lee New.

Officials said the pilot was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital with numerous trauma injuries. The passenger was transported by ground to Floyd Medical Center with numerous trauma injuries. Chief New said both men were conscious. The identities of the men have not been released. Chief New said the passenger suffered a fractured rib, the condition of the pilot was not immediately known.

Euharlee Mayor Dennis Thayer said he believed the pilot was aiming for an open field and is thankful the accident was not worse.

"We got really lucky," said Mayor Dennis Thayer.  "The time of day was before school got out, so a little bit later in the afternoon we would have had school buses and school children here. A little bit farther south it might have been into or near the power plant which could have been significant."

Officials said the wreck caused damage to nearby utility poles and a fuel spill. FAA officials were on the scene Tuesday evening. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

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