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.
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. — Alabama State Troopers are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash that claimed the life of a 63-year-old man Thursday evening in Walker County.
Authorities identified the victim as Roger D. Naramore, a resident of Nauvoo, Alabama.
The collision occurred shortly before 7:30 p.m. on Alabama Highway 5, approximately five miles north of Jasper.
According to Senior Trooper Gregory Corble, Naramore was operating a Suzuki VZ800 motorcycle when he collided with a Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by 32-year-old Kayla House.
Emergency personnel responded to the scene, but Naramore was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of his injuries.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.