A memorial will be held Monday night to remember a 38-year-old roller derby skater killed when a small plane crashed into the car in which she was a passenger on Interstate 15 in the Fallbrook area over the weekend.
Antoinette Frances Isbelle, a Starlettes team member who skated as "Rockalishous," was in the backseat of a Nissan sedan that was struck by the troubled Lancair IV single-engine plane as it was attempting to land alongside the freeway near Old Highway 395 Saturday morning. The car's driver had momentarily pulled to the roadside to sync a Bluetooth device, authorities said.
Three other local roller derby skaters were injured in the crash, along with the plane's 62-year-old pilot and 50-year-old passenger.
The San Diego Roller Derby identified the three skaters involved in the accident using their nicknames: Rowdy Rodbuster, Vanilla Gorilla and Witchy Wife. Monday night's event at Skateworld San Diego in Linda Vista will also raise money to help in their recoveries.
"In the aftermath of the tragic accident involving members of our San Diego roller derby community, we want to honor our fallen teammate and support our injured derby family during this difficult time," roller derby officials said in a statement.
Several people who witnessed the crash told investigators they didn't hear anything that would indicate engine trouble, but the way the plane had banked was a sign of trouble, according to fire officials. It's landing gear had apparently not been deployed.
The National Transportation Safety Board has launches an investigation into the plane crash. A preliminary report is expected this week, but it could take authorities up to a year to complete their investigation, according to National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Terry Williams.
