Sadly, there's a local angle to the Montana plane crash

Over the weekend, a plane crashed in Montana, killing all aboard. Both the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and the Los Angeles Times are reporting that, despite the fact that the plane crashed in Butte, there is a local angle to the story.

The Times article includes a picture of Amy Jacobson of St. Helena, California, and her family. Amy is the daughter of Redlands dentist Irving M. "Bud" Feldkamp III, and the sister of Vanessa Pullen. Amy and Vanessa were among those who died in the plane crash. Irving had driven ahead and was planning to meet his daughters and the rest of the family and friends who were on the plane.

See the linked news articles for more information.

There is also a statement from Loma Linda University:

On Sunday,March 22, a tragic plane crash inMontana abruptly ended the lives of six Loma Linda University alumni, and seven of their children.The professional pilot of the plane also died in this accident.There were no survivors.Our entire Loma Linda University andMedical Center family joins in expressing our sincerest sympathy to the grieving relatives and other loved ones at this time of unimaginable loss.

The deceased are:

Vanessa Feldkamp Pullen, School of Medicine (’98), husbandMichael Pullen,
School of Dentistry (’99), children Sydney (age 10) and Christopher (age 7) Amy Feldkamp Jacobson,DentalHygiene (’97), husband Erin Jacobson, School of Medicine (’00), children Taylor (age 4),Ava Grace (age 3), Jude (age 2) KristenMautz Ching, School of Nursing (’00), husband Brent Ching, School of Dentistry (’98), childrenHailey (age 5) and Caleb (age 4) Buddy Summerfield, pilot

Words cannot express the sadness we feel for our colleagues who are family members and friends of those who lost their lives.Numbered among the many who now mourn are those who serve with us in our educational and health ministries.

Our prayer is that our Lord will give us a special measure of his mercy as we share the deep sadness of this loss and as we reach out in love to embrace those who are grieving.

From the office of the deans of Loma Linda University School ofMedicine, School of Dentistry, and School of Nursing.