Off-road racer Huseman dies in plane crash

BARSTOW, Calif. (AP) — Off-road racing fans are mourning the death of champion Rick Huseman and two others killed in a Southern California desert plane crash.

Toyota confirms Monday that the 38-year-old Huseman, his brother, Jeff, and a pilot died in Sunday’s crash in San Bernardino County.

Coroner’s officials said earlier that three Riverside men, ages 26, 35 and 38, died but that their names were being withheld pending official confirmation.

Huseman was a member of Toyota’s off-road racing program. He won the 2010 Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series Pro-4 championship.

Authorities say a Beech 33 Bonanza was flying from North Las Vegas, Nev., to Corona when the pilot declared an emergency Sunday afternoon. The plane was heading to Barstow-Daggett Airport to land when it went down in Newberry Springs.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.