4 family members of Illinois governor candidate killed in Montana helicopter crash, campaign says
Four family members of a Republican running for governor in Illinois were killed in a Montana helicopter crash his campaign reported Thursday The son daughter-in-law and two grandchildren of former state lawmaker Darren Bailey who lost the gubernatorial vote in Illinois and is seeking his party s nomination again in next year s race were killed in the crash Wednesday Bailey previously served in both the Illinois House and Senate Bailey s son Zachary his wife Kelsey and their two young children Vada Rose and Samuel died in the crash in a remote area of eastern Montana his campaign reported in a report The couple s third child was not on the helicopter Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss They are finding comfort in their faith their family and the prayers of so numerous who love and care for them the report mentioned Zachary Bailey was piloting the helicopter when it went down commented Aaron Del Mar who is Darren Bailey s running mate and serving as a family spokesperson They were in Montana on a business trip so that Zachary Bailey could expand their use of helicopters as part of the family s farm business Del Mar noted Bailey and his two brothers helped their father run their farm in south-central Illinois Zachary Bailey first got his helicopter license years ago Del Mar stated so that he could deliver clinical supplies and aid to people in third-world countries That was a driving force for him to get his license he explained The cause of the crash was not known Del Mar revealed No one else was on board he revealed The National Transportation Safety Board revealed Thursday it was scrutinizing the crash near the town of Ekalaka The sheriff s office in Carter County reported it responded to the site southwest of the town early Wednesday evening Bailey from the southern Illinois town of Xenia stated in September that he is seeking the GOP s nomination for governor in He lost to heavily-favored Gov JB Pritzker in Pritzker stated on Thursday that he and his wife 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 declared Bailey a staunch conservative dramatically increased his statewide profile in as a frequent critic of Pritzker s approach to the coronavirus pandemic including refusing to wear a mask during legislative sessions During his run for governor Bailey railed about crime in Chicago and proposed eliminating the state s gun licensing system saying it doesn t stop people from using guns illegally He once supported a resolution seeking to make Chicago a separate state Bailey unsuccessfully challenged five-term incumbent Republican U S Rep Mike Bost in last year s primary race for a district that covers much of the bottom one-third of Illinois Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi explained in a comment that the party is grieving the tragic loss Please join us in keeping the Bailey family in our thoughts and prayers during this unimaginable time the report mentioned Source
