Boy Who Died in Aircraft Crash with Household Hit Grand Slam in Final Sport

• In a Fb publish, baseball coach Frank Tumminia Jr. shared footage of James R. Van Epps hitting a grand slam throughout a baseball recreation, which occurred shortly earlier than he was killed in a June 30 aircraft crash
• “Errors are how children be taught, it’s a part of the evolution. JR didn’t make errors… in any side of his life,” Tummnia wrote in regards to the boy
• The NTSB stated in an announcement shared with PEOPLE that there was “storm exercise alongside the flight path” of the plane that carried members the relations

A boy who was killed in an upstate New York aircraft crash alongside together with his household hit a grand slam shortly earlier than the doomed flight.

Frank Tumminia Jr., recognized by the Occasions Union newspaper as a baseball coach of the late James R. Van Epps, shared video footage of the 12-year-old boy hitting the homer in a latest tribute.

“In his final recreation in Cooperstown NY, the place youth athletes desires are made with storybook backgrounds and brackets stuffed with a number of dozen groups… JR Van Epps crushed a GRAND SLAM,” the coach wrote.

“Errors are how children be taught, it’s a part of the evolution,” the coach continued. “JR didn’t make errors… in any side of his life— relationships, faculty, and goodness gracious when you’ve been hit by him then you realize…any time he touched the sector.”

“At present and for so long as I reside I’ll train the dwelling testimony of JR. A bit of me left with him yesterday afternoon,” Tumminia added. “I’ll keep in mind him as the final word human.”

On July 1, New York State Police (NYSP) introduced the crash of a Piper Malibu Mirage plane in an space alongside Lake Cecil Street in Masonville, New York. 

The company stated 5 folks onboard the aircraft have been killed: Laura Van Epps, 43 (a household relative later stated her age was 41); Ryan Van Epps, 42; James R. Van Epps, 12; Harrison Van Epps, 10; and pilot Roger Beggs, 76. 

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Police stated the victims have been all relations from Georgia, noting they have been in Cooperstown for a baseball match.

In an announcement obtained by PEOPLE on July 5, the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB), which is investigating the June 30 incident, stated – based mostly on preliminary info – the Piper plane was leaving Oneonta, New York and flying to Charleston, West Virginia, when it crashed “beneath unknown circumstances.”

The company added that there was “storm exercise alongside the flight path,” based on meteorological knowledge.

“All main parts of the aircraft have been situated apart from the rudder…The aircraft has been recovered to an offsite facility for additional analysis,” the NTSB assertion learn partially. 

A closing report detailing a possible reason for the crash may are available in 12-24 months.

In an announcement shared through Fb on July 1, Ansley Van Epps, sister of Ryan Van Epps, wrote that because the household grapples “with this unimaginable loss, allow us to come collectively to recollect and have a good time the gorgeous lives they lived. Their kindness, laughter, and love will perpetually be etched in our hearts.”

“Please maintain their family members and our household in your ideas and prayers throughout this extremely troublesome time,” Ansley added. “Could we discover energy and solace within the reminiscences and the outpouring of affection from all who knew them.”

Ansley later instructed PEOPLE that they’re heartbroken and nonetheless processing what occurred, however that they are additionally grateful for the outpouring of help proven within the aftermath of the tragedy.

In a publish on X, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp acknowledged the victims, writing on July 1:  “As we be taught of this tragic information, please be part of Marty, the ladies, and me in praying for the family members of the Beggs and VanEpps households. We provide our deepest condolences to all who knew and liked them.”

Oneonta Ladies’s Softball, based mostly in upstate New York, additionally paid tribute to the household, sharing images of league members taking a second of silence and softball gloves mendacity on the sector.  

“Tonight, we take a second of silence for Cooperstown Baseball Goals Park ball participant JR Van Epps and his 4 relations who misplaced their lives in a tragic aircraft crash on their route again dwelling yesterday,” per the league’s July 1 Fb publish. “Always remember to carry these you cherish shut; they are often gone immediately 💛 For the love of the sport 🥎”