Prince George RCMP officials have verified that an individual has passed away following an emergency landing of an aircraft on Foothills Boulevard, approximately 1.5 kilometers north of North Nechako Road. The RCMP mentioned that two motor vehicles were part of the incident. A statement from the RCMP expressed sorrow over the fatality, which involved an occupant of one of the vehicles, while the condition of the other vehicle occupants and those on board the plane remains uncertain.
Authorities have advised the public to steer clear of the area, as Foothills Boulevard has been shut down to traffic in both directions and will remain closed overnight into Friday. The Transportation Safety Board is set to lead the investigation, according to the police. Emergency responders were summoned to northern Prince George where a small plane made an apparent emergency landing on a busy road around 2:30 p.m. PT near Highland Drive on Foothills Boulevard.
B.C. Emergency Health Services reported receiving a call around the same time, and multiple emergency medical units responded to the scene. Paramedics assessed ten individuals, with two of them being transported to the hospital in stable condition. Witness Mohit Arora recounted being on Foothills Boulevard when the plane descended, striking a pickup truck and narrowly missing hitting his own vehicle. The driver of the truck sustained injuries but survived the incident.
RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper stated that the scene is being assessed with other first responders and confirmed the involvement of two cars in the incident, making it challenging for drivers to anticipate and react swiftly. Prince George Fire Rescue mentioned its response to a severe motor vehicle incident involving an aircraft. The Transportation Safety Board identified the aircraft involved as a Beech King Air 200 and announced its team’s deployment to Prince George for further investigation.
Photographs captured by Arora depicted the aircraft with a broken propeller lying on the road, alongside a yellow vehicle and a pickup truck damaged by the collision. The plane exhibited substantial wing damage. Authorities have urged individuals to avoid the area, emphasizing that the road closure will endure for an extended period.