With a single swing, 12-year-old James R. Van Epps made his dreams come true, hitting a grand slam during a youth baseball tournament in Cooperstown, New York.
But J.R.’s day of celebration ended tragically just days later.
He and four members of his metro Atlanta family, including his parents, younger brother and grandfather, were all killed Sunday in a small airplane crash, according to New York State Police.
Both the Alpharetta and youth baseball communities are grieving the losses of J.R., 10-year-old Harrison Van Epps, 43-year-old Laura Van Epps, 42-year-old Ryan Van Epps and 76-year-old Roger Beggs. Beggs was Laura’s father, according to the family.
“As we grapple with this unimaginable loss, let us come together to remember and celebrate the beautiful lives they lived,” the Van Epps family said in a statement posted on Facebook. “Their kindness, laughter and love will forever be etched in our hearts.”
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp also offered his condolences.
“As we learn of this tragic news, please join (wife) Marty, the girls and me in praying for the loved ones of the Beggs and Van Epps families,” Kemp said in a statement on social media. “We offer our deepest condolences to all who knew and loved them.”
Officers responded to the crash in Masonville, New York, around 2 p.m. Sunday. Search teams found the bodies of five passengers in the wreckage of the Piper Malibu Mirage. There were no survivors.
“A multi-agency effort search of the area, with the utilization of drones, ATVs and helicopters, led to the discovery of debris and ultimately to the downed aircraft,” police said in a statement.
The family had been in New York for a tournament at Cooperstown Dreams Park, which hosts yearly summer events for teams from around the country. The town is the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane departed from Albert S. Nader Regional Airport in Oneonta, New York, with five people on board. It was headed to Charleston, West Virginia, for refueling before its ultimate destination of the Cobb County International Airport.
Records show that Beggs held a pilot’s license. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“Please keep their loved ones and our family in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” the Van Epps family said. “May we find strength and solace in the memories and the outpouring of love from all who knew them.”
