Janice R. Andrews
In a devastating incident, five members of a Georgia family lost their lives in a plane crash in upstate New York, according to a news release by state police on Monday.
The victims have been identified as Roger Beggs, 76; Laura Van Epps, 43; Ryan Van Epps, 42; James R. Van Epps, 12; and Harrison Van Epps, 10. The family was returning from a baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York, when the tragedy occurred.
The incident took place on Sunday at around 2 p.m. when authorities were alerted to a possible plane crash near Lake Cecil Road in Masonville, Delaware County. Multiple agencies, utilizing drones, ATVs, and helicopters, located the debris of the single-engine Piper Malibu Mirage and the deceased passengers.
The ill-fated plane had departed from Albert S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, New York, with an intended refueling stop in West Virginia before reaching its final destination at Cobb County International Airport near Atlanta.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by federal agencies.
Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia released a statement on Monday afternoon on X (formerly Twitter) expressing his “deepest condolences to all who knew and loved” the deaths.
Watch this space for further developments on this unfolding tale.
