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FARMINGTON — The passenger of an experimental plane crash on the Centerville/Farmington border that killed the pilot was a retired Davis County Sheriff’s Office employee and full-time hoist paramedic with Intermountain Life Flight, officials said this weekend.
Jason Sorensen, 47, was severely injured and taken to University of Utah Hospital in critical condition when the plane he was riding last Thursday slowly lost elevation before landing in a field, sparking a brush fire of close to 10 acres, police said.
The pilot of the aircraft, Andre Kostrzewa, 72, of Salt Lake City, later died after being transported to the hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Sorensen, who was working as a hoist paramedic and pilot with Intermountain Healthcare, was also flown to the hospital, where employees immediately recognized him as a co-worker and associate, according to Intermountain spokesperson Jess Gomez.
“They responded to the accident to care for the pilot and the passenger, and upon doing everything they could, they realized Jason was a passenger,” Gomez told KSL TV.
Employees of Intermountain Healthcare described Sorensen as "the nicest guy" on the company's Facebook page and extended well wishes to him and his family.
Sorensen had both legs amputated below the knee at the hospital’s burn center and intensive care unit as a result of his injuries, Davis County Sheriff’s Office said. The department added that he will face “many surgeries ahead, and although he is not close to being out of the woods yet — each minute/hour is full of ups and downs — he is in good hands.”
“The love and concern shared by the community has been felt by Jason’s wife and family, and continues to bring them the comfort they so greatly need right now,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post and news release. “Meals are not currently needed, and privacy has been asked from all at this time.”
A donation account has also been set up in Sorensen’s name at America First Credit Union, charitable account No. 9116393, the agency said.
Two bystanders who helped pull Kostrzewa and Sorensen from the wreckage were also treated for injuries.
Contributing: Morgan Wolfe, KSL TV; Graham Dudley, KSL.com
