A small plane crashed shortly after takeoff in Pineville yesterday, claiming the lives of two highly respected men from Alexandria and leaving a 7-year-old in the ICU. President of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce Deborah Randolph says the deaths of twin brothers Ben and Blake Cooper is devastating news.
“They were two of the best people you would ever want to meet, who were loved and cherished by their families, great spouses, great children, wonderful friends in the community,” said Randolph.
Blake Cooper was the executive director of the Central Louisiana Regional Port Authority and Ben Cooper was an administrator at Oceans Behavioral Hospital in Alexandria. Randolph says the Tioga High grads were very active in the community.
“It’s so tragic that there were lives were cut short, because I expected great things to continue from both of them as community leaders in the future,” said Randolph.
Randolph says the sole survivor, 7-year-old Mason Cooper, was the son of Blake Cooper, adding he has a long road to recovery ahead.
“He had head trauma, broken bones in his face, a broken bone in his leg, he underwent two surgeries last night, he’s expected to live,” said Randolph.
The NTSB is investigating the crash that happened near Lake Buhlow.
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