(KMJ) – A South Valley High School grad was among the U.S. Service Members killed in a military plane crash in Afghanistan.
29-year old Chris Ruiz was a 2004 graduate of Lemoore High School who served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He then became a civilian contractor for the Army. In that role, Ruiz inspected and repaired weapons systems for troops in Afghanistan.
He was aboard an Air Force C-130 when it crashed just after midnight local time on October 2nd at an air base in Afghanistan.
Six air force crew members and four other civilian contractors were also killed in the crash. Its cause remains under investigation.
Despite taliban claims it shot down the plane, U.S. military officials say its unlikely it was lost to hostile fire.
Chris Ruiz is survived by his wife and their three children — ages five, three and one.
And his wife, Lorelyn Reith, has now set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the family.
