LIGHTHOUSE POINT, Fla. (WSVN) — A South Florida community is grappling with sudden tragedy after one of their own died in a plane crash in Lake Okeechobee.
Seventy-three-year-old Eric Peterson, an attorney from Lighthouse Point, was one of five people killed when a twin-engine Piper heading from Tampa to West Palm Beach went down about 400 yards from the lake’s southeast shore, just north of Pahokee Airport, Friday afternoon.
Peterson’s son spoke briefly with 7News, Saturday afternoon, as he and the rest of the family continue to grieve.
“It’s horrible … I mean, my dad is gone,” he said.
Area residents described Peterson as a pillar of the community, a highly successful lawyer who was a partner at his firm.
“He was one of my friendliest neighbors around,” said Ralph Campanella, who has lived across the street from the Petersons since they first moved in more than a decade ago.
Campanella said Peterson, who works out of West Palm Beach, lost his son at an early age.
Now Campanella and other neighbors are praying for the loved ones in mourning.
“Eric was a great guy, and he’s with his son now in heaven, I’m sure,” he said.
The community offered Peterson’s family support and comfort in any way possible.
“We love it here in Lighthouse Point, and this is going to be really devastating for our neighborhood and our town,” said Campanella, “We’ll wait until it’s time and find out the details and give our respects to the family.”
All of the five victims appeared to have connections to the Greater South Florida area. The other four were identified as Eduardo Mulet, of West Palm Beach; Matthew Fiorello, of Palm Beach Gardens; Heather Bridwell, of Jupiter; and Edwin Mortell, of Stuart.
It remains unclear what went wrong in the flight. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are attempting to determine whether it was human error, a mechanical issue or something else.
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