2 years ago
Dr. Hector Collison, a respected physician, and his son were killed around midnight Friday when the doctor's plane crashed in a remote area of the Shenandoah National Forest.
Collison, 54, and his 15-year-old son, Sean, departed the Front Royal-Warren County Airport around 11:50 p.m. Friday when the plane crashed in the area of 4900 Panhandle Road which is about six miles west of Front Royal.
The doctor had flown to Front Royal to pick up his son from a boarding academy and was returning to the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
Sgt. Les Tyler, a state police spokesman, says the single-engine 2006 Cirrus SR22 airplane crashed minutes after takeoff in rough terrain about four miles from the airport in Warren County.
Paula Faria, communications director for Washington Hospital Center, said Dr. Collison was a respected cardiologist who had a practice at the hospital. He had one of the largest practices for his specialty in the Washington area. "This is a really big loss to the community," Faria added.
All day and night dozens of family members, friends, colleagues, patients and even a pastor arrived, at what Collison called his dream home on the Potomac, to pay their respects.
"He was a wonderful doctor and a God-fearing man" said Lillian Wilson tearfully as she drove away after visiting with the family.
"The community has lost a great person and a great doctor" said Josephine Mourning a friend and patient of Collison.
"Nobody had a bigger heart" commented Dr. Leon Brown a friend and former Howard classmate. "It's unimaginable to lose both a husband and son; our condolences go out to his wife and family" he added.
Veteran WUSA9 Reporter and Anchor Bruce Johnson also knew Doctor Collision. "He was one of the cardiologists at the Washington Hospital Center who performed emergency angioplasty on me after my heart attack years ago. Hector Collison helped save my life" said Johnson.
The Virginia State Police, FAA and NTSB are investigating the crash.
Written by 9NEWS NOW
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