BORDEN, IN. (THECOUNT) — Orlando City Soccer Club founder Wayne Estopinal, has been identified as the victim killed Friday morning in a plane crash in southern Indiana, the club said in a statement.
Estopinal, 63, was a well-known businessman and philanthropist in Louisville and southern Indiana. He helped found LouCity FC in 2015, served on the Louisville Zoo’s board for a decade and was involved with the Louisville Sports Commission, among other endeavors.
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“The Orlando City SC organization would like to express its deepest sympathies for Founding Owner Wayne Estopinal, his family, the fellow passengers and everyone else who was impacted by today’s tragic plane accident in Indiana. Wayne was one of the first to believe in our Club and the dream to bring Major League Soccer to Orlando. While serving on our Board of Directors, he continued his legacy by building Louisville City FC into one of the most dominant franchises in the United Soccer League. He will be deeply missed, but his impact on the Orlando City organization and American soccer will be felt for years to come,” the club said in a statement. source
“We literally would not have this club without Wayne, so for me to try to put into words just a few hours after learning he passed, it’s kind of hard,” LouCity President Brad Estes said. “Our fans, the community at large would have never had the chance to embrace this club had it not been for his vision.”
Indiana State Police said the corporate-style jet left from the Clark County Airport at 11:24 a.m. Friday en route to Chicago.
It’s believed that there were three people on board, officials said.