MOAB, Utah (ABC4) — A state senator from North Dakota and his family were tragically killed in a plane crash just north of Moab on Sunday evening, Oct. 1.

State Sen. Doug Larsen (R) as well as his wife and two kids were killed as their small passenger plane was taking off from the Canyonlands Regional Airport, about 20 miles northwest of Moab, according to the Associated Press and confirmed by ABC4’s Nexstar sister station in North Dakota, KXMA. The Grand County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported around 8:30 p.m. as witnesses said the plane had “gone into the ground.”

Deputies with the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Moab Fire Department and Emergency Medical Technicians responded and began rescue efforts for the passengers on board. Just after midnight on Oct. 2, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office confirmed rescue efforts were completed and reported four passengers did not survive the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that it was investigating the crash of a small plane near Moab.

Messages to the Grand County Sheriff’s Office seeking additional information wasn’t immediately returned Monday.

Larsen was elected to the North Dakota State Senate in 2021. He represented District 34 in Mandan and served in the North Dakota National Guard for 26 years.