From correspondents in Americas, 06:00 AM IST

Tegucigalpa (Honduras), Dec 7 (EFE) A motorcyclist was hit and killed by a small plane carrying cocaine on a highway in northern Honduras, officials said.

Israel Martinez Euceda, 18, was hit by the twin-engine plane while riding his motorcycle Saturday night, police and prosecutors said.

The plane, which was registered in Colombia, broke in two and burst into flames after hitting the motorcyclist.

The accident occurred near Punta de Ocote, a village in the northern province of Yoro, officials said.

Several people waiting for the plane pulled the pilot and most of the cocaine out of the burning aircraft's wreckage.

Police and prosecutors who went to the accident scene recovered only about 25 kg of cocaine.

Planes coming from South America frequently land at clandestine air strips and highways in northern and eastern Honduras, unloading drugs that are later moved out of the country.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)