No injuries from plane emergency landing, report shows

‘This is our home’ – Protest demands fair treatment for undocumented immigrants

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Two days after a joint operation netted eight traffic arrests and the detainment of dozens of others, residents gathered to protest what they say is unfair treatment from law enforcement officers along with racial profiling of undocumented immigrants. The demonstration - deemed "Fight For Our Families" - aims to counter the narrative of classifying anyone without documentation as "criminals." "This is our home. I live here. I have a mortgage here," said event co-organizer Azucena Maldonado, 46, a longtime Vero Beach resident whose roots originate in Mexico. "There is no reason for people to be afraid of us or the language we speak." Capt. Joe Abollo, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff's Office, said ...

Plane had engine problems before crashing on Fellsmere ranch, FAA officials say

FELLSMERE — A small plane experienced engine problems midflight, causing its pilot to make a forced landing in a private ranch Thursday, according to a preliminary report from the FAA. The pilot, a man, was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce with serious injuries. An update on the man's condition was not available on Friday. The pilot was the only person aboard the privately-owned Aviat Pitts S-2B, which is an aerobatic biplane. Fellsmere police, Indian River County deputies and fire rescue crews responded to reports of a downed plane about 10:35 a.m. Thursday in an undeveloped area of land east of Interstate 95 in the city of Fellsmere. The collision occurred in an empty cow pasture two ...

Man on railroad tracks struck by Brightline at 8th Street crossing

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 30-year-old man was critically injured after he walked along the railroad tracks and was struck by a Brightline train at the Eighth Street railroad crossing, deputies said. "The (crossing) arms were down," said Lt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. The incident happened about 6 p.m. Sunday at the crossing at Eighth Street between U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway, Jaworski said. The crash happened south of the Vero Beach city limits. Jaworski said the man was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. Deputies closed Eighth Street for about 30 minutes. "Deputies and railroad officials are on scene working to determine the cause of the crash," Jaworski ...