Sandy West, whose ferocious drumming fuelled the influential all-female 70s US rock band the Runaways, which she co-founded with Joan Jett, has died of lung cancer.

Four people, including a young girl and a toddler, have died after a light aircraft plane crashed into a group of Americans celebrating the July 4 holiday.

One person was killed and at least 20 injured when a small plane crashed into a United States Independence Day crowd at a suburban park in California today.