Darien Man Dies in Plane Crash Near Lewis University

Victor Pantaleo, of Darien, was killed in a plane crash near Lewis University Airport Sunday afternoon, his family has confirmed. Another person was seriously injured, officials said.

According to Roland Herwig, spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration, the single-engine 1976 Cessna 210 crashed sometime before 2:45 p.m. Two people were on board, he said, and both were taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Herwig confirmed at 8 p.m. that one of the two had died. 

Herwig said the flight had originated at Brookeridge Airpark in Downers Grove, but the FAA still does not know where it was headed.

"The FAA is on the scene and that will be part of our investigation," he said.

Romeoville police confirmed Sunday afternoon that Airport Road had been closed at Route 53.

According to FAA records, the plane is registered to Pantaleo. 

Pantaleo's wife, Terri, confirmed Sunday evening that he had died in the crash.

Bob Siegfried, president of the Brookeridge Airpark Board of Directors, confirmed that Pantaleo was one of the pilots who used the private airfield. He lived about a half-mile from the airpark, he said, and had kept his plane there for two or three years.

"He was not one of the guys we see a lot of," he said. "He was not one who was socially active at the airport."

Brookeridge Airpark is a residential airfield that serves about 100 homes, Siegfried said. He did not know whether Pantaleo had filed a flight plan on Sunday.

Arlana Johnson, spokesman for ComEd, said she was notified around 2:27 p.m. that a plane had crashed and taken out some overhead power lines in the process. About 1,000 customers were without power for less than an hour, she said.

More information on this story as it develops.