Cops: plane crash victims were headed to funeral

CANTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- It was a tragic end for a Florida couple who died in a small plane crash in Canton Monday night.

News 8 has learned that the two former Canton residents were on their way to a funeral when the plane went down.
    
The crash scene, in the woods near the Canton and Simsbury line, is the reason Lori Savino's parents never showed up while she waiting for them at the airport.

"It was devastating," said Mafalda Savino. "I couldn't say anything, they couldn't say anything, all we did was cry."

Savino is talking about her conversation with her son Steven and daughter-in-law Lori. She didn't want to show her face, but talked about the pain her loved ones are going through from the tragic crash.

Lori's parents, 73-year-old Donald Derocher and 74-year-old Josephine Derocher flew the plane from Florida with a stop in Pennsylvania, but never made it. As if that isn't heartbreaking enough, the couple was flying to CT to attend Mr. Derocher's 96-year-old father's funeral.

"I said 'oh my god' that was more than what I expected," Savino said. "Three people."

Canton police say Bradley International airport air traffic reported lost radar contact. About two hours later, a State Police helicopter then located the aircraft on top of the ridge known as Onion Mountain. About 20 minutes later, they were able to get to the site.

"Believe it or not they had to cut their way through the trees and brush to get there," said Captain Lawrence Terra, Canton PD.

When they did, they found the crashed plane, the couple, and their belongings.

"What comes next is gonna be hard, especially for my daughter-in-law," said Savino. "She's broken up, naturally."