A mother-of-two has died after a plane experiencing engine trouble made an emergency landing on a busy road in Canada and struck four vehicles.
Alex Garneau was killed when the Beechcraft King Air 200 came down among traffic on Foothills Boulevard in Prince George, British Columbia. She leaves behind her husband, Jordan, and their two young children, Josie and Jackson.
The aircraft, operated by Sekani Air, had departed the remote Sturdee River airstrip at 1.25pm on Thursday, August 20, bound for Prince George International Airport. According to preliminary findings, the plane lost power to one of its engines mid-flight and was forced to set down on the road below, which connects the city centre to the Hart neighbourhood in the north.
There were two crew members and six passengers on board the aircraft at the time. None of the people on the plane suffered injuries, but the aircraft struck four vehicles on the ground, killing Garneau in one of the cars. Paramedics examined a further 10 people at the scene, taking two to hospital in a stable condition.
Garneau was an active and widely recognised member of the local sports community, connected through her husband to teams including the HPL Kings, PG Whalers, and Cariboo Hockey. Both her children play the sport — Jackson has represented the Junior Ducks, HPL Kings, HPL Lumberjacks, and Vancouver's Pacific Selects, while Josie plays in the 2015 age category.
Following the crash, an online fundraiser was set up by organisers Laura Creighton and Katie Trottier, who described Garneau as a deeply committed parent who was involved in nearly every activity her children joined. They wrote: "She made the drive. She organised. She cheered. She made things happen."
The organisers added that she was a loyal friend who consistently showed up for those around her, saying: "She was fiercely devoted to her family, and she will be forever missed and remembered." Across two separate appeals, well-wishers have contributed more than C$100,000 (£53,700) to help support her husband and children with their immediate and long-term living needs.
A second appeal launched by the Junior Ducks Hockey Club described Garneau as "so much more than a hockey mom", noting that she regularly travelled with the squad and helped organise events for young players. The club shared that she brought genuine warmth into any room, adding: "We love you, Alex. You will never be forgotten."
What we do not know for certain yet is the precise chain of mechanical events that brought the plane down. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada stated that its early information regarding the engine losing power remains subject to change as the inquiry proceeds. Investigators spent Friday collecting physical evidence from the site and arranging formal interviews with those involved.
Local police and the Prince George RCMP have not yet publicly confirmed Garneau's identity as the victim of the crash. Complex aviation safety investigations like this typically take several months to complete before a final official report is published. I'll be following this one — check back for updates.







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