A tragic plane crash in upstate New York claimed the lives of five Georgia family members, including 12-year-old James “JR” VanEpps, who hit a grand slam during his final baseball game in Cooperstown, according to his coach. The coach, Frank Tumminia Jr., shared the news on Facebook, praising JR’s athletic prowess and calling him the “ultimate human.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that the plane carrying VanEpps passed through an area of storm activity before crashing, resulting in the loss of flight tracking data shortly after departure. The single-engine Piper PA-46 aircraft was en route from Oneonta, New York to Charleston, West Virginia when the tragedy occurred.
New York State Police identified the victims as James VanEpps, Harrison VanEpps, Ryan VanEpps, Laura VanEpps, and Roger Beggs, all family members from Georgia who were in town for a baseball tournament. The crash site in Masonville was discovered as the plane was returning to Atlanta with a stopover in West Virginia.
The NTSB reported that the debris path from the crash spans about a mile, with most major portions of the plane recovered except for the rudder. The tragic incident has left the community mourning the loss of the VanEpps family and their fellow passenger, Roger Beggs.
As investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the crash, the memory of JR VanEpps lives on through his remarkable performance on the baseball field in Cooperstown. The impact of this loss reverberates through the hearts of those who knew him, leaving a void that can never be filled. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones of the victims during this difficult time.
