Local figure skating community reeling from loss following deadly plane crash in DC
Heartbreak is being felt deeply in the Hudson Valley following the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. That's especially the case for members of the figure skating community.
More Stories
Heartbreak is being felt deeply in the Hudson Valley following the deadly plane crash in Washington, D.C. That's especially the case for members of the figure skating community.
"Literally, I just want to cry because it's devastating," says Dev Paes.
There are heightened emotions as Dev Paes drops off her child at skate practice in Newburgh.
Her daughter is part of the Hudson Valley Figure Skating Club. Members of the organization are reeling from grief right now.
"Even though they are competing against one another, they all love one another, so it really hits this community hard," says Paes.
RELATED: Collision between helicopter and jetliner kills 67 in deadliest US air disaster in quarter century
It all stems from the deadly collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army helicopter at Reagan National Airport Wednesday night.
Investigators don't believe there are any survivors. More than a dozen figure skaters were on that plane. It was coming from Wichita, Kansas where the U.S. Figure Skating Championships just happened.
"I was explaining to my daughter about the accident and the names were released. She knows a couple of the team members that passed away," Paes tells News 12.
Others in the local skate world are truly shocked.
"Between hockey skaters and figure skaters, we all come and play for the love of ice. To lose people in that community, it's tragic," says Highland resident Jarrett Distasi.
Skaters across the Hudson Valley tell News 12 that they are leaning on each other during this difficult time as they wait for more information on what caused the tragedy.
