Tag Archives: illinois-state

Aaron Leetch And Torrey Ward Deaths Illinois State University is currently in mourning after two members of their coaching staff’s lives ended in tragedy. After attending Monday’s NCCA Basketball championship game in Indianapolis, Aaron Leetch (L) and Torrey Ward (R) were killed when their small plane crashed. The Chicago Tribune reports: Two members of Illinois State University’s athletic department were among the seven people killed when their small plane crashed near the Bloomington airport while returning from the NCAA basketball championship game in Indianapolis, authorities said. They were identified as Aaron Leetch, deputy director of athletics for external operations, and Torrey Ward, associate head coach of the Redbirds men’s basketball team. “The entire campus (is) in mourning,” ISU President Larry Dietz said in a statement. Two other victims have been identified: Terry Stralow, a partner in a popular bar in Bloomington-Normal, and Scott Bittner, owner of a meat-processing company and owner of the twin-engine Cessna 414 that crashed. No information about the others killed was available, but authorities said everyone on board died in the crash. The plane left the Indianapolis airport about 11 p.m. Monday and hit heavy fog over central Illinois, authorities said. About 12:15 a.m., radar contact with the plane was lost, according to the sheriff’s office. A search was launched, and a Bloomington police officer discovered the wreckage in a field northeast of the airport, the office said. “It was determined that there were no survivors,” the office said. At some point “that radio contact was lost,” he said. Olson did not say if the pilot indicated experiencing any trouble. The pilot did not cancel the flight plan or make any alterations in flight, he said. So sad, condolences to the families of the coaches and the rest of the victims.

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R.I.P. Two Members Of Illinois State Coaching Staff Die In Plane Crash After Final Four Game