14 Louisville plane crash victims identified, area cleanup continues

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY, WNKY) – The names of the 14 victims of Louisville’s deadly plane crash have been released.

The crash, which took place on Nov. 4, involved UPS flight 2976, which was heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, according to officials. The plane was involved in a catastrophic crash just beyond the takeoff runway.

Gov. Andy Beshear stated, “Kentucky, we must never forget these 14 children of God, taken far too soon by the UPS plane crash. These families need our prayers, love and support more than ever. Let’s be there for them during this time of need. We’re in this together.”

On Wednesday, Beshear shared the names of the victims, which include the following:

• Capt. Dana Diamond
• Capt. Richard Wartenberg
• First Officer Lee Truitt
• Angela Anderson
• Carlos Fernandez
• Louisnes Fedon
• Kimberly Asa
• Trinadette “Trina” Chavez
• Tony Crain
• John Loucks
• John Spray
• Matthew Sweets
• Ella Petty Whorton
• Megan Washburn

In addition, WLKY reports cleanup operations are underway and have expanded after the crash in south Louisville. The cleanup is now over five miles south of the airport, with oil and debris in multiple waterways.

According to WLKY, MSD said the oil and debris was contained to the Melco Drainage Basin, including Pond Creek, the Northern Ditch and the Southern Ditch.

JR Schroerlucke, a resident near Pond Creek, says, “My son and the neighbor’s boys and things, they go out there fishing a lot and things like that. And you’ll see people walking down, to the, the Louisville loop and fishing out of the creek and things just right off of the park there.”

After learning the crews working near his home are cleaning up debris from the crash, he says he’s glad they’re there.

Schroerlucke says, “I mean, if there’s something in the water that needs to be cleaned up for the community, especially the young children in the neighborhood, for sure.”

The crew at Pond Creek is one of several working in the Melco Drainage Basic, which also includes the northern ditch and the southern ditch.

Tony Parrott with Louisville MSD says they were able to contain contamination from the crash to that basin.

Parrott says, “One of the things that I think is very clear for the public to understand is that that basin, has been isolated ever since. And so everything that has collected in that basin did not release to the waterway.”

Parrott says crews have skimmed large pieces of sludge off the top of water with machines, but oil is harder to catch.

Crews have set up what’s called “booms” along the creeks, which act like a wall and absorb the floating oil.

Crews also are deploying what resemble pieces of paper but are actually more like sponges called sorbents, soaking up the oil before they are removed by crews.

Parrott says they are monitoring the waterways constantly.

Parrott says, “We asked folks to avoid touching, swimming, fishing or kayaking or interacting in those waterways in any fashion and keep your pets away from the water as well.”

The section of Pond Creek that crews are working on is just steps away from Nick Rodman Park. Shroerlucke says he hopes crews can get it cleaned up quickly.