AP
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Four family members of a Republican working for governor in Illinois had been killed in a Montana helicopter crash, his campaign stated Thursday.
The son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren of former state lawmaker Darren Bailey, who misplaced the 2022 gubernatorial election in Illinois and is searching for his celebration’s nomination once more in subsequent 12 months’s race, had been killed in the crash Wednesday. Bailey beforehand served in each the Illinois House and Senate.
Bailey’s son, Zachary, his spouse, Kelsey, and their two younger youngsters, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, died in the crash in a distant space of japanese Montana, his campaign stated in a press release. The couple’s third little one was not on the helicopter.
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“Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. They are finding comfort in their faith, their family, and the prayers of so many who love and care for them,” the assertion stated.
Zachary Bailey was piloting the helicopter when it went down, stated Aaron Del Mar, who’s Darren Bailey’s working mate and serving as a family spokesperson.
They had been in Montana on a enterprise journey in order that Zachary Bailey may broaden their use of helicopters as half of the family’s farm enterprise, Del Mar stated. Bailey and his two brothers helped their father run their farm in south-central Illinois.
Zachary Bailey first received his helicopter license years in the past, Del Mar stated, in order that he may ship medical provides and assist to individuals in third-world nations. “That was a driving force for him to get his license,” he stated.
The trigger of the crash was not identified, Del Mar stated. No one else was on board, he stated.
The National Transportation Safety Board stated Thursday it was investigating the crash close to the city of Ekalaka. The sheriff’s workplace in Carter County stated it responded to the location southwest of the city early Wednesday night.
Bailey, from the southern Illinois city of Xenia, introduced in September that he’s searching for the GOP’s nominee for governor in 2026. He misplaced to heavily-favored Gov. JB Pritzker in 2022.
Pritzker stated on Thursday that he and his spouse expressed their condolences to the Bailey family. “I cannot imagine losing a child, losing two grandchildren, and what they must be going through,” the governor stated.
Bailey, a staunch conservative, dramatically elevated his statewide profile in 2020 as a frequent critic of Pritzker’s method to the coronavirus pandemic — together with refusing to put on a masks throughout legislative periods.
During his run governor, Bailey railed about crime in Chicago and proposed eliminating the state’s gun licensing system, saying it doesn’t cease individuals from utilizing weapons illegally. He as soon as supported a decision searching for to make Chicago a separate state.
Bailey unsuccessfully challenged five-term incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Bost in final 12 months’s major race for a district that covers a lot of the underside one-third of Illinois.
Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi stated in a press release that the celebration is grieving the tragic loss. “Please join us in keeping the Bailey family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time,” the assertion stated.