The son of former major leaguer Steve Sax was one of the five Marines killed in a training flight crash on Wednesday in southeastern California.
Officials with the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing said that Capt. John J. Sax, 33, of Placer, California, was one of two MV-22B pilots who was killed in the crash near Glamis. The other pilot was Capt. Nicholas P. Losapio, 31, of Rockingham, New Hampshire.
The others killed were three tiltrotor crew chiefs: Cpl. Nathan E. Carlson, 21, of Winnebago, Illinois; Cpl. Seth D. Rasmuson, 21, of Johnson, Wyoming; and Lance Cpl. Evan A. Strickland, 19, of Valencia, New Mexico.
Steve Sax, 62, whose major league career spanned 14 years with four teams and was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1982, said his son’s ambition had always been to become a pilot, the Los Angeles Times reported. The elder Sax sad it was “with complete devastation” that he announced the death of his son.
>> 5 Marines killed in aircraft crash in California identified
“There was never any doubt from a young age that Johnny would be a pilot and his passion was to fly!” Steve Sax said in a statement released to KCBS-TV on Saturday. “I am so proud of the man he became and so proud to call him my son!” he said in a statement released by CBS News. “This loss will change my life forever and is a loss to not only the Marines but this world!”
Steve Sax played in the majors from 1981 to 1994, winning World Series titles with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981 and 1988.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers are saddened to hear about the passing of Steve Sax’s son, John, and the five Marines who lost their lives in this week’s tragic helicopter accident,” the team tweeted Saturday. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to their families and friends.”
According to the U.S. Marine Corps, the MV-22B Osprey belonging to 3rd Marine Air Wing was based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, KSWB-TV reported.
The aircraft went down in the northeastern part of Imperial County, a Navy spokesperson and a member of the Imperial County Fire Department confirmed to the Calexico Chronicle.
