6 killed when small plane crashes in Lake Wales after taking off from St. Lucie County airport

Plane was enroute to Kansas from Bahamas

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Prominent Kansas business owner Ron Bramlage and family confirmed dead in Lake Wales plane crash.
Photographer: WFTS and KSHB
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Posted: 06/07/2012

By: WFTS

Six people are now confirmed dead after a plane crash near Lake Wales. The victims have been identified as Ron Bramlage, a prominent Kansas businessman, his wife Becky and their four children.

The small plane, which reportedly holds nine people, crashed and caught fire in the Tiger Creek Preserve south of Lake Wales Thursday afternoon.

The Ledger of Lakeland (http://bit.ly/LFO1is ) reports that the group was heading home to Kansas from the Bahamas and stopped at St. Lucie County International Airport in Fort Pierce before continuing toward Kansas.

The cause of the crash wasn't immediately known, but parts of the plane were found two miles from the crash site, which was only reachable by all-terrain vehicles.

Bramlage is the grandson of Fred Bramlage - the namesake for Bramlage Colliseum at Kansas State.

Theresa Underwood, a member of the Bramlage family, spoke to the Scripps station in Kansas City.

"We are heart broken," she said. "They were an amazing family."

There has been no word on what may have caused the crash.

The Associated Press contributed to this report