Round Lake girls still in hospital after plane crash

The 15-year-old daughter of a Round Lake man who was killed in a small plane crash, leaving her and her friend injured early Saturday morning near Tampa, Fla., remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition, a family friend said Sunday night.

"Right now, it's still the same," said Ken Hoxie, a neighbor and friend of Jeffrey Bronken, 53, of the condition of Bronken's daughter, Katherine, who was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa along with her friend, Keyana Linbo, 15. "She's in serious condition, but stable."

Hoxie said he did not know the status of Linbo.

Sgt. David DiSano of the Pinellas County sheriff's office said Sunday afternoon both girls are being treated at a hospital with serious injuries.

DiSano said he has been told Linbo's injuries do not appear life threatening, but had no further information.

Pinellas County detectives are assisting the Federal Aviation Association and the National Transportation Safety Board with the investigation of the crash that occurred on McMullen Booth Road, just south of Enterprise Road at approximately 4 a.m. Saturday.

Detectives have determined the single engine 1980 Piper aircraft left a Chicago airport sometime around 6:30 p.m. Friday. The plane was en route to the St. Pete/Clearwater International Airport before crashing a few miles north of the airport.

All three victims were from Round Lake.

The Twitter feeds of the two girls, who attend Grant Community High School, indicate a very close friendship.

One tweet on Tuesday from Linbo indicated she was eagerly anticipating the trip to Florida: "So ready for this weekend with my babe @KatieBronken."

The last tweet on Katie Bronken's feed said, "We just landed in Nashville."