Dead pilot known for bringing hybrid Prius to U.S. consumers
SAN PEDRO — A small plane crash off the coast here over the holiday weekend claimed the life of a man instrumental in introducing the Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle to the United States.
Los Angeles County Fire Department units and Ocean Lifeguards responded to the Saturday afternoon call about a quarter-mile off the coast of White Point County Beach.
David Hermance, 59, of Huntington Beach, reportedly crashed an Interavia E-3 plane around 1:20 p.m. on Saturday, according to officials with the county fire department.
“It’s a high-performance aerobatics plane you can use for stunts,” said Ian Gregor, spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. “He was practicing aerobatics.”
The crash reportedly occurred about 400 feet off the coast. Within minutes, area lifeguards located Hermance, who sustained massive head trauma in the crash, according to an incident report by LA County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman.
Hermance, an engineering executive for Environmental Engineering at Toyota Motor Corp. in Gardena, was dead at the scene. The National Transportation Safety Board has yet to determine the cause of the crash into the water.
A search for debris and more victims continued on Sunday, when the experimental plane was found submerged in more than 70 feet of water. Officials confirmed there were no other occupants on board.
A representative of Toyota Motor Corp. did not return calls requesting comment.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.