Pilot Dies in Small Plane Crash on BART Service

Authorities investigate the scene of a small plane crash, left center, on the BART transfer tracks near the Hayward maintenance yard in Hayward, Calif., on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The pilot was killed in the crash and BART service was stopped south of the South Hayward Station. (PHOTO CREDIT: Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

A pilot died and BART service was interrupted Sunday hours before Game 7 of the NBA Finals after a small plane crashed on the agency’s tracks, authorities said.

There were no reports of injuries to anyone on the ground, including BART passengers or staff, and the agency reopened its service around 2:10 p.m. after shutting down trains in both directions between South Hayward and Fremont on its Fremont line.

The twin-engine Piper PA23 went down for unknown reasons about four miles east of the Hayward Executive Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said.

The plane crashed around 12:05 p.m. on BART’s transfer tracks at its Hayward Yard, spokeswoman Denisse Gonzalez said, near the area of Whipple Road and Railroad Avenue. The location is on the border of Hayward and Union City. Gonzalez confirmed the death of the pilot, who was not immediately identified.

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SOURCE: Mercury News, Rick Hurd