Tragic: Plane crash kills North Dakota state lawmaker, along with his wife and two children

North Dakota state Sen. Doug Larsen, his wife Amy, and their two kids passed away due to a plane crash.

The Grand County Sheriff's Office described the lawmaker as the pilot of the aircraft.

"Senator Doug Larsen, his wife Amy, and their two young children died in a plane crash last evening in Utah," North Dakota state Senate Majority Leader David Hogue communicated in an email to other senators, according to the Associated Press. "They were visiting family in Scottsdale and returning home. They stopped to refuel in Utah."

"I'm not sure where the bereavement starts with such a tragedy, but I think it starts with prayers for the grandparents, surviving stepchild of Senator Larsen, and extended family of Doug and Amy," Hogue noted. "Hold your family close today."

Larsen had served in the North Dakota Army National Guard for nearly three decades, according to a press release from North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's office.

Burgum, who is currently running in the GOP presidential primary, said the state lawmaker "was a father, husband, coach, entrepreneur, businessman, state senator and lieutenant colonel in the North Dakota National Guard who committed himself fully to each of those roles with an unwavering sense of honor and duty."

"As a legislator, he was a tenacious advocate for individual rights and the freedoms he defended through his military service," the governor noted.

Adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann described Larsen as "a true patriot who dedicated his life, both in and out of uniform, to serving others."

During an interview posted to YouTube last year, Larsen had noted that he was happy to have the chance to serve in office.

Senator Doug Larsen's Straight Talk video podcastwww.youtube.com

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