Community prays for victims during vigil at fatal crash site

Community prays for victims during vigil at fatal crash site

By JULIE MURPHY
Staff Writer

SANFORD -- The vacant lot where Pete and Millie Dechat's house stood became a temple for fellowship Thursday and, in the shade of the neighboring house, a refuge from the July heat one year after a plane crash at the site killed five people, including 4-year-old Gabriela Dechat.

Before a candlelight vigil began at 6:30 p.m., Joe Woodard -- whose home also was destroyed by the crash -- took family and friends through the shell of the house he is rebuilding. His wife, Janise, 24, and 6-month old, JoSiah, were home when the Cessna crashed into it and died.

Woodard is rebuilding his life in the community that has seen him through hardship.

"Every block that goes up is a step closer," he said.

Michael Klemm piloted the plane for NASCAR Aviation. Dr. Bruce Kennedy, the husband of Lesa France Kennedy, president of International Speedway Corp., was his passenger. Neither man survived the fire in the cockpit and the accident that followed.

The Dechats were parishioners of the Sanford Alliance Church and friends of Pastor Roger Thomas, who led the vigil.

Pete Dechat, stepson Danny Happy, daughter Gabriela and wife Millie Dechat were home when the plane hit.

"The great miracle is with Pete and Danny," Pastor Thomas said as friends, family, neighbors and firefighters gathered in the street. "To me, they were burnt to death but survived. It was a 136 percent chance that Pete would not make it, and a 104 percent chance that Danny wouldn't."

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