Teen Survives Plane Crash Walks To Safety

SEATTLE (AP) — The father of a teenage girl who survived a small-plane crash in the craggy, thickly forested mountains of north-central Washington state and emerged from the wilderness after hiking for a couple of days says she's doing remarkably well.

The fate of her two step-grandparents, who also were on board, remained unclear and a search continued for the plane wreckage.

David Veatch of Bellingham, Washington, told reporters outside a Brewster hospital late Monday that his 16-year-old daughter Autumn Veatch is exhausted but was able to joke with him about how they watched survival shows together.

He calls her "just an amazing kid."

Three Rivers Hospital CEO Scott Graham says the teen has no life-threatening injuries but is dehydrated and suffering from a type of treatable muscle tissue breakdown caused by vigorous exercise without food or water. She'll stay at the hospital overnight.

The Beech A-35 left Kalispell, Montana, Saturday afternoon, headed for Lynden, Washington. Also aboard were Leland and Sharon Bowman of Marion, Montana.