Local News
Victims Killed in Copake Plane Crash Identified
A private plane crash in Copake, New York, over the weekend claimed the lives of six individuals, including a former NCAA Woman of the Year and members of a prominent family of medical and academic professionals.
The group was en route to the Catskills for a family gathering and to observe the Passover holiday when tragedy struck.
Authorities identified the victims as 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) soccer standout Karenna Groff, her father Dr. Michael Groff, a respected neuroscientist and the pilot of the aircraft, her mother Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist, and her boyfriend James Santoro, also a recent MIT graduate.
The other two individuals aboard the plane have not yet been publicly identified.
The crash occurred just after noon on Saturday when their twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B went down in a muddy field in the town of Copake, near the New York-Massachusetts border.
The aircraft had taken off earlier that morning from an airport in White Plains, a suburb of New York City, and was scheduled to land at Columbia County Airport.
The crash site is located approximately 20 miles south of the intended destination.
Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore noted that emergency response efforts were hampered by the remote and muddy terrain where the aircraft went down.
“It’s in the middle of a field and it’s pretty muddy, so accessibility is difficult,” she said during a press briefing Saturday.
Family members expressed deep sorrow over the sudden and devastating loss. John Santoro, father of victim James Santoro, described the Groff family as “wonderful people” who had already made meaningful contributions to the world and had the potential to do much more.
“The world lost a lot of very good people who were going to do a lot of good for the world if they had the opportunity,” he said. “We’re all personally devastated.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash and is expected to release further details in the coming days. Funeral arrangements for the victims are currently underway.
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through both the MIT community and medical circles, as those lost were remembered not only for their achievements but for their warmth, compassion, and dedication to service.
Volusia County, Fla. — A 16-year-old boy has died after being found unresponsive in the Indian River during a weekend camping and fishing trip, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the teen as Hunter McKelvin of Paisley. Deputies said he was discovered face-down in the water Saturday morning near a small island east of Maynard May Park in Edgewater.
Members of the group located the teen and immediately began CPR before transporting him by boat to Maynard May Park.
Upon arrival, officers with the Edgewater Police Department and other emergency responders took over life-saving efforts.
McKelvin was then transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased later that morning.
Investigators reported that no visible injuries were observed, and there were no immediate signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances during the initial investigation.
An autopsy has been scheduled as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.