BREAKING NEWS: Tragedy Hits Baseball Community as Plane Crash Claims Georgia Family Returning from Tournament
A heartbreaking tragedy has struck the baseball world as a Georgia family of five, returning home from a youth baseball tournament, was killed in a plane crash in upstate New York.
Among the victims was 12-year-old James Van Epps, a rising baseball star who had just hit a grand slam during his final game. Also killed were his younger brother Harrison, age 10, their parents Ryan and Laura Van Epps, both 42, and Laura’s father, Roger Beggs, 76, who was piloting the aircraft.
The family had departed Oneonta, New York, in a single-engine Piper PA-46 on July 1, 2024, with plans to refuel in West Virginia before reaching their final destination in Atlanta. Just 12 minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed into a heavily wooded area near Masonville, NY.
Authorities from the NTSB and FAA are actively investigating the crash. Preliminary data suggests weather conditions, including storm activity, may have played a role.
The family had traveled over 900 miles to attend the tournament in Cooperstown, where James fulfilled a lifelong dream with his grand slam. The loss has sent shockwaves through the community, and tributes have flooded in from across the country.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp offered condolences, saying, “We are heartbroken for this incredible family. Our prayers are with all those grieving this unimaginable loss.”
This tragedy joins a painful history of aviation disasters involving sports teams and athletes, reminding the nation once again of the fragility of life.
The baseball community mourns the Van Epps family, whose love for the game and one another was tragically cut short.
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