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In addition, Cessna fuel spill displaces home’s occupants.

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Three people were killed Friday evening when a small plane headed to Florida crashed into a ravine after taking off from a Hall County airport, authorities said.

The single-engine Cessna 182 crashed just after 6 p.m. about 2 miles northeast of Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Emma Duncan said.

“The aircraft crashed shortly after departing from Gainesville on a planned flight to Daytona Beach,” Duncan said.

Hall County Fire Services spokesman Zach Brackett said the plane went down just north of Memorial Park

Drive.

“Three adult occupants were found deceased, and it was confirmed with the FAA that this matches the occupants reported to them for this flight,” Brackett said.

Damage was reported between Titshaw Drive and Memorial Park Drive, Brackett said, adding that four adults and a child were displaced after fuel from the plane landed on their home. No other injuries have been reported.

The plane’s occupants have not been identified. Their bodies will be taken to the Hall County Coroner’s Office, officials said. It’s unclear what caused the crash, but the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have been called in to investigate.

There were multiple agencies at the scene. Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible.

Kyle Wright will start the Braves’ exhibition season opener Sunday against the Rays, manager Brian Snitker said Friday. Wright will be the first of seven pitchers who are scheduled to appear in the game.

The Braves will play “a few” of their regulars Sunday, Snitker said. Those who don’t play Sunday likely will play the following day in Fort Myers against the Red Sox. Most of the regulars will play in the team’s home opener at Cooltoday Park on Tuesday against the Twins.

Wright, 25, could open the season in the rotation if Mike Soroka, who’s returning from a torn Achilles, begins the season on the injured list. The realities of a 162-game season will give Wright opportunities, and it’s pivotal he makes the most of them.

Veteran starters Charlie Morton and Drew Smyly are on oneyear deals, so if Wright builds off his late season success in 2020, perhaps he finally establishes himself in the rotation for 2022. In the meantime, he provides valuable depth. As the

Braves at Rays, 1:05 p.m., Port Charlotte, Florida, 680, 93.7 FM, 100.5 FM

Braves saw in just 60 games, a team can never have too many starters.

Grant Dayton, Sean Newcomb, Carl Edwards, Tucker Davidson, Chad Sobotka and Patrick Weigel will follow Wright in the seven-inning affair.

Dayton is among several competing for a bullpen spot.

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The same goes for Edwards, who’s an intriguing nonroster invitee. If Edwards shows the firepower he had before injuries stalled his career, he could certainly snag one of the open spots.

Newcomb is a fascinating case. The lefty was jettisoned from the rotation during the 60-game campaign and never returned. A year earlier, he was extremely effective as a reliever. Newcomb is somewhat overlooked in the conversation, but it’s conceivable he could work his way back into the mix at some point.

Sobotka provides additional bullpen depth. Weigel is an annual fixture on the “most interesting pitchers” list each spring. He appeared in his first and only majorleague game last season but should see more time in 2021. Davidson, who made his debut in the regular-season finale last year, could see time as a spot starter and reliever over the course of the season.

The Braves will play 29 games in 31 days leading to the regular season. Each of their games will be seven innings until March 13. The Braves begin the regular season April 1 in Philadelphia.

PAMELA MILLER “One of my favorite places, Gibbs Gardens, Ball Ground,” wrote Mary Beth Bender.

James Cole took this photo of a Lilac-breasted roller in South Africa. “I have taken thousands of photos of this bird, hoping to get this shot, during my 30 visits to South Africa over the last 20 years,” he wrote.

“I took this picture while visiting Sarasota, Fla., at the Selby botanical gardens,” wrote Toni Adler of Atlanta. “They were having a Salvador Dali exhibit and it was absolutely beautiful.”

Bryan Leskosky shared this photo of a snow-covered flower from his home in Ellijay on Feb. 8, 2020.

CURTIS COMPTON/CURTIS.COMPTON@AJC.COM Braves pitcher Kyle Wright does a morning workout session Friday at spring training in Cooltoday Park in North Port, Florida. Wright, 25, could open the season in the rotation if Mike Soroka, returning from a torn Achilles, begins the season on the injured list.

CURTIS COMPTON/CURTIS.COMPTON@AJC.COM If Braves pitcher Kyle Wright builds off his late season success in 2020, perhaps he finally establishes himself in the rotation for 2022.