Four Family Members of Darren Bailey Killed in Montana Helicopter Crash
Ekalaka, Montana — A devastating helicopter crash in eastern Montana has claimed the lives of four family members of Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, authorities confirmed Thursday.
In a heartbreaking statement, Bailey shared that his son, Zachary Bailey (37), daughter-in-law, Kelsey Bailey (35), and their two young children, Vada Rose and Samuel, were all killed when their helicopter went down Wednesday evening near Ekalaka, a small rural community close to the North Dakota border.
Bailey wrote on social media:
“Last night, our family experienced an unthinkable tragedy. Our son Zachary, his wife Kelsey, and their precious children, Vada Rose and Samuel, lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Montana. We are heartbroken beyond words. Please keep our family in your prayers as we hold on to our faith during this time of unimaginable grief.”
Authorities said the helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff in a remote pasture area. Local first responders reached the wreckage late Wednesday, but there were no survivors. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are leading the investigation to determine the cause of the crash.
A third child, 10-year-old Finn Bailey, was not aboard the helicopter and survived.
Darren Bailey — a former Illinois state senator and 2022 Republican nominee for governor — is currently running again in next year’s election, seeking to unseat Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker. Bailey and his wife, Cindy, are well known in southern Illinois for their strong faith, community involvement, and family farming business.
Messages of condolence have poured in from across the political spectrum. Governor Pritzker released a statement offering “heartfelt sympathy to the Bailey family during this unimaginable loss,” adding, “No parent should ever endure such pain.”
Friends and supporters have described Zachary and Kelsey as a loving couple devoted to family, faith, and hard work. “They were the kind of people who made you feel welcome the moment you met them,” said one longtime family friend. “This is a tragedy that touches the entire community.”
The NTSB has dispatched investigators to the crash site and expects to release a preliminary report within two weeks. Funeral arrangements for the Bailey family are expected to be announced soon.
As the Bailey family mourns, communities across Illinois and Montana are rallying in prayer and remembrance — united in grief, and in honoring the lives of four souls lost far too soon.