Plane crash kills auto dealer, wife in Arizona; two others hurt

SHOW LOW, Ariz. -- A plane crash in eastern Arizona has killed a well-known rural Arizona auto dealer and his wife and severely injured the man's son and his wife.

The single-engine plane crashed moments after taking off Saturday morning in Show Low, Ariz. The plane was headed to Las Vegas.

Show Low police Sgt. Shawn Roby identified the dead as Gerald Hatch and his wife, Ruth Hatch, of Snowflake-Taylor. Both were 66.

Gerald Hatch's 38-year-old son, Rob Hatch, was pulled from the flaming airplane by firefighters. Rob Hatch and his 36-year-old wife, Kelly Hatch, were flown to Phoenix hospitals.

Police Chief Jeffrey Smythe said Gerald Hatch was the primary owner of a series of automobile dealerships in the eastern Arizona mountain communities of Show Low, Winslow and Snowflake.

Roby said Ruth, Rob and Kelly Hatch also were affiliated with the dealerships.