State Glance

Small plane crash injures pilot in southeastern Arizona

WILLCOX — Authorities say a small plane crashed in southeastern Arizona, injuring the pilot.

The Cochise County Sheriff’s office said the hard landing happened about noon Saturday at Willcox Airport.

The pilot hit his head upon impact but declined hospital treatment. No one else was aboard. Damage to the single propeller airplane is significant.

It had taken off from Lordsburg, New Mexico and was traveling to Casa Grande.

Authorities said the pilot was trying to land at Willcox Airport when the plane began to shake and then made a hard landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.

Officer saves bystander as car barreled toward them

PHOENIX — An Arizona police officer is being called a hero for pushing a tow truck driver out of the way as a car barreled toward them.

Phoenix police said the officer was standing near a tow truck Saturday night as it was loading a vehicle when a car apparently lost control, jumped past a raised median and went over the lanes into oncoming traffic.

The officer pushed the tow truck driver out of the way and then dived away himself.

The officer suffered nonlife-threatening injuries but was not hit by the car.

Authorities aren’t sure what caused the car to lose control but the driver has been hospitalized in extremely critical condition.

Police said the officer has been on the force nine years and is in training to become a sergeant.