TOOELE, Utah, Nov. 19, 2016 (Gephardt Daily) — The friends and family of Jake Shepherd — killed with three others on Friday when their medical airplane crashed in Elko, Nev. — have set up a memorial fund.
Shepherd leaves behind a wife and three children, the Tooele County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
“Prayers to our EMS family and to all families of those that lost their lives in Elko yesterday,” the post said. “Jake Shepherd, you will be deeply missed. Thank you for your service.”
Others killed in the fiery crash were nurse Tiffany Urresti, of Elko, Nev.; pilot Yuji Irie, originally from Las Vegas; and heart patient Edward Clohesey, of Spring Creek, Nev. The plane was bound for the University Medical Center, in Salt Lake City.
The Piper PA 31 aircraft crashed at about 9 p.m. due to unknown circumstances. It had just taken off from Elko Regional Airport, located some 300 miles north of Las Vegas, and crashed in the Barrick Gold Corp. parking lot. No one on the ground was injured.
According to the Elko Daily Free Press, the crash resulted in multiple explosions and flames near a casino, grocery store and senior housing complex. It was reported that several vehicles in the parking lot caught fire.
Air ambulance company American Medflight said the company was “devastated by this event and wish we had answers to the many questions being asked at this time. We are cooperating fully with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration as they investigate the accident.”
The GoFundMe post for Shepherd set a goal of $10,000, and had raised $7,290 within the first seven hours.
“Jake Shepherd passed away last night in a plane crash doing what he loved, being a flight paramedic for American Medflight,” the GoFundMe post says. “He leaves behind a wife and 3 kids. Please support this fund to help his family with this difficult time.”
The Tooele Police Department posted its own tribute to Shepherd on Twitter:
“We’ve learned that one of the paramedics killed in the American Medflight crash in Elko was one of our own community’s heroes. We are deeply saddened at his loss, and the loss of all on board during the flight. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and colleagues of these great people. We thank you for your service.”
