OGDEN, Utah - As Weber County mourns the loss of two couples who died in a plane crash on I-15, a co-worker of victim Perry Huffaker is sharing his memories.
“I had a conversation with him the other day where he told me, you know, 'We're not alone, and that things happen for a purpose and that God watches out over all of us,'" said a tearful Justin Anderson. "And I think he would just want everybody to know that he's OK, he's with his love, and he'll miss seeing you for a while."
While Anderson said he and Perry worked together, they were best friends more than anything.
"You know we'd often embrace and tell each other we loved each other like brothers, and it's a hard day," he said.
Perry worked for Ogden City and was recently involved in organizing a rodeo.
"During a part of the rodeo that was gonna happen and they didn't quite need him right there, he ran off to get ice cream cones to give to the emergency responders and the police, and to thank them for being there and working so hard, so, yeah, that's who he was," Anderson.
While he was a hard-working community man, Anderson said Perry was all about family.
"He loved his wife and his children: They were the world to him," Anderson said.
The Huffakers and Clarkes both leave behind four children. Two of the Huffaker's four children are currently serving missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Clarke family's LDS bishop told Fox 13 on Wednesday that Layne and Diana Clarke's children ranged in age from 16 to 21, and that the parents were active in volunteering at school and church.
He said Layne Clarke, the pilot of the plane, carried many years of experience.
Ogden City has established an account at America First Credit Union to help the Huffaker family. The account can accept online transfers or in person deposits. The account number is 9096181 and it is under the last name Huffaker.
A GoFundMe page has also been created to assist the family with funeral costs.
The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it sent an investigator to the area to determine what caused the crash. An NTSB spokesperson said the investigator will examine the wreckage, which has been transported to a secure facility.
According to the NTSB, the investigator will collect data, interview witnesses and go over radar and flight patterns, to figure out if the plane had any mechanical issues. The organization told Fox 13 it hopes to release a report on the crash in 10 days.
