VENICE, Fla. — Police in Florida are investigating after a small aircraft crash claimed the lives of four Hoosiers.
According to authorities, a Piper PA-32R-300 aircraft carrying Rick Beaver (60) and Bethe Beaver (57) of Noblesville and Patricia Lumpkin (68) and William Lumpkin (64) of Fishers crashed just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The plane reportedly left St. Petersburg, Florida around 5 p.m. and flew to Venice, Florida. Around 9:35 p.m. the plane left Venice back to St. Petersburg.
Shortly after takeoff from Venice, the plane crashed.
According to authorities, the single-engine plane was operated by William.
Rick and William, who went by Jeff, were found together Wednesday evening.
On Thursday, Bethe and Patty were found with the wreckage near the Venice Fishing Pier.
The four individuals left a great impact on their community.
Bethe was the founder and owner of Indiana Elite Cheer and Tumbling in Noblesville.
Cheerleaders remembered Bethe with a memorial outside of the facility Thursday night. They left flowers and hung posters that stated what Bethe meant to them.
Jeff and Patty impacted the lives of those who attended church with them at Life Church.
“You never know exactly how much time is left for you,” Nathan Peternel, the lead pastor at Life Church, said. “But if I was going to live my life not knowing when my last day was going to be, if I was living it like Jeff and Patty, I’d be living it with a lot of purpose.”
Peternel met Jeff through the church. The two went to breakfast together one morning where Jeff talked more about his passion for leadership and flying.
“I knew him through his love for flying,” Peternel said. “He ended up becoming a mentor in my son’s life, and anybody who reaches out to your son has your heart. My son is in the military. He wants to be a pilot, so Jeff began to mentor him towards learning what to do and the order of things.”
WFTS in Tampa assisted WRTV in this report.
-
Thousands lose SNAP benefits as city launches emergency food effort
As thousands across Indianapolis face the sudden loss of food assistance, the city and its partners are launching emergency food distributions and funding to help families put food on the table.
Abandoned historic church's parish files petition to demolish building
St. Philip Neri Church, which merged with Holy Cross Church in 2014, filed a petition on Halloween for a judge to potentially overturn the building's status because of religious freedom.
Pacers Obi Toppin out at least 3 months with a stress fracture in his foot
Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin will miss at least three months due to a stress fracture in his right foot that will require surgery, coach Rick Carlisle said Friday.
Jalen Johnson scores 22 as Hawks beat Pacers 128-108 to keep Indiana winless
The Atlanta Hawks beat Indiana 128-108 in NBA Cup group play on Friday night to keep the Pacers winless this season.
