Autopsies performed on plane crash victims

$PHOTOCREDIT_ON$Associated Press$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$

There are no signs the pilot suffered a medical emergency before a plane crash that killed four people over the weekend in Crystal Lake.

Autopsies were performed Monday. McHenry County Deputy Coroner Curt Bradshaw said the exams confirm the four victims died of blunt force trauma. Tests for alcohol and drugs are still pending.

Wheaton College student Ramie Harris, 21, was one of the victims, along with her father, businessman and pilot Ray Harris, and younger sister, Shey, all of Marion, Ind.

The fourth victim was identified as Chris Backus of Eau Claire, Wis. He was a friend of one of the daughters.

Longtime friend and neighbor Aaron Vermillion said Harris was flying his daughter back to Wheaton after the holiday.

The aircraft was a Cirrus-SR22 registered to the Marion Flying Club in Marion, Ind. Officials haven’t said what caused the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.