A single mother-of-three suffered fatal injuries after getting struck by a landing plane at a minor Oklahoma airport.
27-year-old Samantha Hayes was riding her lawnmower on the field surrounding the Broken Bow Airport when 70-year-old pilot James Baxter was landing the 1972 Bananza A36.
According to the reports, Baxter was close to landing when he noticed the young woman on her mower. While he attempted to lift the plane at the last moment, the wing of the aircraft struck Hayes in the head.
When the paramedics arrived at the scene, Hayes was pronounced dead.
As of this writing, it remains unclear if Hayes worked at the municipal airport that doesn’t have air control or if she owned the nearby land.
Following the shocking news, Samantha was remembered by her loved ones as a “wonderful great mom” to her three kids and a single mom who worked hard to make ends meet.
“Samantha Hayes was a wonderful great mom to her 3 babies! She was a single mom who worked hard to give them a safe and loving home! These babies knew they were loved everyday all day!” friend Darlene Tadleigh wrote in her tribute.
“Them babies will know how much their momma loved them. We never know when these things are gonna happen but they can and for her it did. God knew his plan for her and it’s hard for us to process because she was still needed here but his ways are higher than our ways even when it’s hard to understand.”
Another friend, Carley Hayes, added: “You was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever met, I’ve never heard you say a cuss word or talk down on anyone. You was so full of life and had a whole life ahead of you with your precious babies.
“You’ve got a whole family that’s gonna make sure them babies are good I promise.”
Hayes went on to say she was “mad and upset” while struggling to understand what had happened to her best friend.
Our thoughts remain with Hayes’ loved ones as the investigation into her premature passing continues.