Racing Legend Ted Christopher Among 2 Killed In Connecticut Plane Crash

NORTH BRANFORD/GUILFORD, CT — A plane with two people on board crashed in North Branford Saturday afternoon and officials confirmed Saturday evening that both people were killed in the crash.

The crash was in the area of West Street in a wooded area. The crash site is actually in North Branford as the crash happened in the area of the Guilford/North Branford town line, Lt. James Lovelace of the North Branford Police Department said at a press conference.

Lovelace said some Guilford residents heard a "loud noise" and after about an hour they went out to investigate and found that a plane had crashed in a heavy wooded area.

NASCAR and numerous media sources reported longtime NASCAR Modified driver Ted Christopher was among the two persons killed. The second person killed in the crash was identified by North Branford Police as Charles Dundas, of New York and Florida, NBC Connecticut reported.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France released the following statement:

"We are all saddened to learn of the tragic plane crash this afternoon that claimed the lives of NASCAR driver Ted Christopher and the aircraft's pilot. As a championship driver on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and New England short tracks, Christopher was a throwback to NASCAR's roots. He was a tough racer's racer, and his hard driving style and candid personality endeared him to short track fans throughout the country. He will be missed throughout the racing community, in the garage and, especially, in the hearts of his many fans. NASCAR has his family and friends in its thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

Both the NTSB and the FAA were on scene. The call for the crash came in around 2:50 p.m., however the FAA reported that the plane crashed at around 1:53 p.m. The plane was reported to be a Mooney M20c aircraft, according to the FAA.

Patch will update this breaking news story.

Photo by Jon-Pierre Lasseigne, File/Associated Press