Former High school Basketball coach and Family Died in Plane Crash
A former standout college basketball player and his family were among the victims of a deadly upstate New York plane crash on Saturday, April 12, as they reportedly were taking a trip together to celebrate her 25th birthday.
Karenna Groff, who was named the NCAA Woman of the Year in 2022, died in the plane crash Saturday, according to the Associated Press, USA Today, and Boston.com.
Groff’s parents Dr. Michael Groff and Dr. Joy Saini, and her brother Jared died in the crash, according to the outlets. Groff’s partner James Santoro and her brother Jared’s partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte died in the crash, as well.
Dr. Groff, an experienced pilot, was flying the family in the Mitsubishi MU2 twin-engine aircraft.
PEOPLE previously reported that the plane carrying the Groff family crashed into a field in upstate New York near the town of Copake around 12:15 p.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“They were a wonderful family,” James’ father, John Santoro, told the AP. “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. We’re all personally devastated.”
Santoro told NBC Boston that his son was joining the Groff family on the trip to celebrate her 25th birthday, on April 12.
