Mother of Two Killed After Small Plane Makes Emergency Highway Landing in British Columbia, Striking Her Car
Why It MattersThe crash highlights how a single-engine failure during charter operations can create ground casualties well beyond the aircraft's occupants, underscoring scrutiny on emergency-diversion protocols near populated corridors.
A twin-engine Beechcraft King Air 200 operated by Sekani Air struck four vehicles while making an emergency landing on a highway in Prince George, British Columbia, on Thursday afternoon after one of its engines lost power roughly 13 miles from Prince George Airport. Alex Garneau, a mother of two, was killed at the scene; her daughter Josie, who was in the car with her, was largely unharmed, according to a family friend. None of the six passengers or two crew members aboard the aircraft were injured.
Driver Jaime Pawliuk said the plane's wing sheared the top off his vehicle after he swerved toward a ditch, leaving him with superficial cuts to his hands, while another driver, Mohit Arora, said a propeller stopped about 10 feet from his car. Ten people were assessed for injuries at the scene, and two were hospitalized in stable condition.
Friends remembered Garneau, survived by her husband Jordan and children Josie and Jackson, as a dedicated hockey mom involved behind the scenes of her kids' teams and activities. Authorities said the final crash investigation report could take months to complete.
