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A plane has crashed 3 miles east of Silver City, the Grant County sheriff confirmed.
The crash occurred near Arenas Valley at about 4:30 p.m. The plane went down between the Whiskey Creek Airport and Highway 180 in a residential area, forcing evacuations in a nearby neighborhood.
The crash ignited a small grass fire, which was quickly contained. The blaze also burned the plane.
Four people in the plane died in the crash.
The investigation is ongoing.
The deceased will not be identified until next of kin notifications are completed.
Eighty riders – more than half of those in the men’s professional division racing in the multi-stage Tour of the Gila – were involved in a crash Wednesday that resulted in dozens of injuries and at least one man being airlifted to a Tucson hospital.
Participants said it was unlike any crash they’d ever witnessed.
Jack Brennan, the race’s director, said about 150 riders comprising the men’s professional division set off from Silver City just after 9 a.m. Wednesday to begin the tour’s first 90-mile leg to Mogollon.