State Senator killed with wife and 2 children when plane crashes in Utah

A North Dakota state senator, his wife and two young children died in a plane crash Sunday night, the Associated Press reported.

The plane carrying Doug Larsen and his family crashed shortly after taking off from a re-fueling stop close to Moab in Utah.

The deaths were confirmed by Republican Senate Majority Leader David Hogue who sent a message to Larsen's colleagues Monday morning.

“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 wrote. “Hold your family close today.”

Larsen had been flying back from Scottsdale, AZ, where he had been visiting family.