How the Philly Plane Crash Had a Tragic Result For This Black Man On the Ground

Steven Dreuitt was driving to a nearby mall when a medical plane taking off from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport crashed on January 31.

A Philadelphia family is mourning the loss of their loved one who was a victim of last weekโ€™s deadly plane crash. Local police have identified 37-year-old Steven Dreuitt as the person who was found dead in his car when a medical plane leaving the Northeast Philadelphia Airport crashed on January 31, leaving wreckage and a massive fire on the ground below.

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According to his family, Dreuitt was driving with his girlfriend, Dominique, and his nine-year-old son, Ramesses, to the Macyโ€™s store at Philadelphiaโ€™s Roosevelt Mall โ€“ which is less than five miles from the Northeast Philadelphia Airport โ€“when a Learjet 55 crashed, killing all six of the passengers and crew members on board.

Dreuittโ€™s son and partner were among the more than 20 people who were injured in the accident. Ramesses mother, Jamie Vazquez-Viana, told Philadelphiaโ€™s ABC 6 Action News that the crash left her son with burns on 90 of his body. Although she is โ€œsuper scaredโ€ about her sonโ€™s condition, she is leaning on family and friends and praying for the best possible outcome for his recovery.

โ€œWe just hoping for the best, and we like leaning on prayer. Itโ€™s heartbreaking just going through it,โ€ she said.

Dreuittโ€™s partner Dominique, was also injured in the crash. Her cousin, Shantelle Fletcher, confirmed the news to reporters.

โ€œShe is in a medically-induced coma,โ€ she told Philadelphiaโ€™s NBC10 on February 2. โ€œSeventy percent of her body is burnt.โ€

As the city continues to assess the damage in the area, local officials held an emergency community meeting on February 5 to discuss resources available to residents who have been impacted by the crash.

According to ABC 6 Action News, the Philadelphia Register of Wills announced it will replace โ€œessential records destroyed or damaged in the crashโ€ free of charge. The commerce department announced emergency grants for affected businesses. Mayor Cherelle L. Parker also announced the creation of a โ€˜One Philly Fundโ€™ to support victims of the crash.

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