You are here

Bodies of IRS employee, pilot identified; access road still closed

Share |

By Rebecca Nordquist Monday, 22 February 2010

NORTHWEST AUSTIN — [Updated to include report from Feb. 25's Austin City Council meeting.]

The weekend provided answers to Thurs., Feb. 18’s plane crash in northwest Austin. The Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that one of two bodies found at the Echelon Building, 9430 Research Blvd., which houses Internal Revenue Service offices, was that of missing IRS employee Vernon Hunter, 68. Hunter lived in Cedar Park with his wife, Valerie, who also works for the IRS.

The second body was Austin resident and pilot Andrew Joseph Stack III, who flew a single-engine into the IRS building. Before flying out of the Georgetown Municipal Airport, it is reported that he set his Scofield Farms home on fire. A letter posted on the Internet and written by Stack details his frustrations with the IRS.

The FBI is finished with the investigation at the crash site and concluded the evidence recovery operation Sunday at approximately 2:30 p.m., FBI Special Agent Erik Vasys said. However, the bureau is not releasing further information.

“We did turn over the scene back to the building management,” he said.

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell honored the heroes of last week’s plane crash before the city council’s regular meeting Thur., Feb. 25.

The mayor honored the work of first responders from the fire and police department, as well as other first responders from Lake Travis and Pflugerville fire departments and public safety workers who worked on the scene. He also awarded northwest Austin resident Robin De Haven three challenge coins, which are usually given by the Austin Fire Department chief, EMS director or the police chief. De Haven, who works for Binswanger Glass was working nearby when he saw the crash. He used his ladder to help people escape from the building.

Matt Curtis, Mayor Leffingwell’s communication director, said they believe De Haven was the first person to receive all three coins at the same time.

At the event the city had a moment of silence to honor the victims of the crash, including IRS employee Vernon Hunter, 68.

Curtis said the city hopes Thursday's ceremony helps provide closure for Austin residents.

A section of the access road, which runs approximately seven-tenths of a mile from where Capital of Texas Highway crosses over US 183 South almost to Jollyville Road, remains closed.

“The structural engineer needs to go through and pronounce the building safe before we’re able to open the road,” TxDOT spokesman John Hurt said. “If the building fails, it will fail on the side where the road is.”

Hurt said it is up to the Echelon Building’s insurance company to determine the safety, not TxDOT’s engineers.

“We’re waiting on them,” he said.

A call to KVA Asset and Property Management, who manages the building, was not immediately returned.

—Additional reporting by Beth Wade

Other coverage of this story by Community Impact Newspaper: