FAIRVIEW, Oregon — The lives of two Fairview families are shattered after a small plane crashed into their homes Saturday. One resident, as well as two people on board the plane, died in the crash, National Transportation Safety Board officials said Tuesday.
"It was the loudest boom I have ever heard," recounted Tom Keegan, who was inside his home recovering from surgery from days before.
"It was just a second or two when I saw all the stuff blow into the room; I think it was the airplane coming across our deck into the back of the house area," he continued. "I was just thrown across into the bathtub. And I somehow looked around and saw insulation everywhere. I stood up like I was a feather, and I walked out and walked across broken glass and didn't get a scratch."
Tom's wife, Judy, had just stepped outside to the clubhouse, where she was prepping for a party later that day.
"I did not know Tom was safe because I knew he was not doing good. He just had surgery on Wednesday," she said.
But now, they're grieving not only their lost home but Judy's best friend next door, who she says was killed in the crash.
"She was an amazing woman," Judy reminisced. "We traveled together. We shopped together; we were always in Kohl's. People thought we worked there," she continued, with a small chuckle.
Kim Williams also lost her home in the crash.
"I'm still in shock. I have been shaking on and off since the event," Williams said.
Though, luckily, she wasn't at home, but at a beach with her father and 7-year-old daughter for a last minute, unexpected trip.
"It was just like a sign from God to go to the beach, and thank God we weren't there," Williams said.
She said she was hysterical when she found out the news.
"Luckily, my dad was there to drive us home, and I sat in the backseat with my daughter and was just screaming," Williams recalled.
Her three cats that were inside survived, but she lost everything else, including her mother's belongings, which Williams was waiting to go through after her mother passed away in May.
But as a community, both families told KGW that they will try their best to move forward and heal.
"You know, it's a real strong community. There's a lot of great people in this community," Judy said.
All four are staying with family and friends as they get back on their feet. GoFundMe fundraisers for Tom and Judy Keegan, as well as Kim Williams and her daughter, have been set up to help both families recover.