SAN FRANCISCO – Four people were rescued earlier today after their plane crashed into Steinberger Slough near the San Carlos Airport.
At 10:56 a.m., the Coast Guard received a report from the San Mateo dispatch that a small cherokee plane landed in Steinberger Slough with three adults and one child inside. Because of the location of the plane, and because a boat could not access the area, a civilian helicopter pilot voluntarily flew San Mateo firefighters out to the scene of the plane crash. The pilot, Fred Koler, and passengers Zoaver Sing, 16, Kelly Centers, 33, and her daughter Sara Centers, 7, were given initial first aid by the San Mateo Fire Department.
An MH-65 helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco was launched to medevac the patients. All four were airlifted to the San Carlos Airport where they were transferred to emergency medical services. The Coast Guard rescue crew returned to the scene and hoisted the four San Mateo firefighters out of the slough.
The pilot and passengers are in stable condition and are being treated at Stanford Hospital. The San Carlos Police Department also assisted. A joint response by all involved agencies resulted in a successful rescue with minimal delay.
There is no resulting oil pollution and any threat to the environment has been mitigated.
