Robert Stark, Stephen Stark Obituary, Death: Police release names of victims in fatal Boca Raton plane crash.

Robert Stark, Stephen Stark Obituary, Death – Three people tragically lost their lives in a plane crash that occurred Friday morning near a busy intersection in Boca Raton. Authorities with the Boca Raton Police Department have identified the victims as 81-year-old Robert Stark of Boca Raton, 54-year-old Stephen Stark of Delray Beach, and 17-year-old Brooke Stark, also of Delray Beach. All three individuals were traveling together aboard a small aircraft that ultimately went down in flames.

The incident unfolded just after 10:20 a.m. near the intersection of Military Trail and Glades Road, a location not far from the Boca Raton Airport. The aircraft involved was a twin-engine Cessna 310, which, according to officials, had been headed toward Tallahassee. Witnesses in the area reported seeing the plane flying in circles before the tragic crash. Moments later, the aircraft plunged to the ground and erupted into flames upon impact, killing all three people onboard.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and other aviation authorities are now trying to determine what led to the crash. As part of the investigation, the area surrounding the crash site remained closed to the public into Saturday morning. Officials have not yet released a possible cause of the crash but confirmed that the plane’s erratic flight pattern before impact would be a key focus of the investigation.

In addition to the fatalities onboard the aircraft, a separate vehicle accident occurred as a result of the crash. A 24-year-old local man, identified as Pablo Tafur of Boca Raton, was driving a Toyota Prius when he lost control of the vehicle near the crash site. Police believe the plane crash may have caused or contributed to the traffic incident. Tafur’s car left the road and struck a tree. Fortunately, his injuries were determined to be non-life-threatening, and he was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Authorities have not disclosed how the three victims aboard the plane were related, but they shared the same last name and were all from the South Florida area. Their deaths have shocked both the Boca Raton and Delray Beach communities, where they were known and loved.

Emergency responders, including firefighters and paramedics, were on the scene quickly after the crash, but due to the fire and damage caused by the impact, there was little they could do to save those inside the plane. The wreckage was heavily burned, and the debris field was extensive, covering a portion of the nearby roadway.

The Boca Raton Police Department and fire personnel secured the area, while the NTSB began collecting evidence. This included witness statements, flight data, and any possible communication between the pilot and air traffic control in the moments leading up to the crash. The investigators will also examine the maintenance history of the Cessna 310 and look into weather conditions at the time of the crash to rule out environmental factors.

While tragic, incidents like this are rare, especially in areas so close to populated intersections and major roads. The location of the crash — near one of the city’s busier crossroads — raised additional concerns for public safety, though no bystanders or other motorists were directly harmed apart from the crash involving Tafur.

In a statement, city officials expressed their condolences to the families affected and promised transparency as the investigation unfolds. The Boca Raton community has begun to mourn the loss, particularly of the 17-year-old Brooke Stark, whose young life was cut short far too soon. Area residents have left flowers near the site and shared memories and prayers for the Stark family on social media.

The FAA is also assisting in the investigation, and a preliminary report from the NTSB is expected in the coming weeks, although final determinations about the cause of the crash could take several months. Until then, aviation officials are urging the public to respect the ongoing investigation and avoid the area if possible.

This heartbreaking event serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictability of life and the importance of safety and vigilance in aviation. As authorities continue to piece together what happened in those final moments before the crash, the Boca Raton community is left to grieve a tragic loss that has left a lasting impact on the region.