Tragic Emergency Landing: Plane Strikes Car, Kills Mother of Two in British Columbia

A mother of two tragically lost her life in British Columbia after a small aircraft, forced to make an emergency landing, collided with her vehicle. Alex Garneau was with her daughter Josie on Thursday afternoon, August 20, when a twin-engine Beech King Air 200 plane crashed onto a highway in Prince George, impacting their car and three others.

The pilot of the Sekani Air-operated aircraft had to execute an unplanned landing due to a loss of power in one of its engines. The plane was approximately 13 miles short of its destination, Prince George airport, when the incident occurred. Remarkably, all six passengers and two crew members aboard the plane emerged unscathed.

However, the impact proved fatal for Mrs. Garneau. A family friend confirmed on Facebook that Alex was “tragically k!lled” when the plane struck her vehicle. Her daughter, Josie, fortunately sustained minimal harm and walked away from the scene “most unharmed.”

Alex Garneau was widely known as a dedicated “hockey mom” to her two children, Josie and Jackson, both of whom play the sport. She is also survived by her husband, Jordan. Tributes poured in from friends through a fundraiser, highlighting her unwavering commitment to her family. “She was the kind of person who was behind the scenes of almost every team and activity her kids were part of. She made the drive,” friends wrote, adding, “She organized. She cheered. She made things happen. Her children are both incredible people and hockey players, and she had big dreams for them and the lives they will lead.”

Her friends remembered her as a steadfast supporter: “Alex was the friend who always had your back, the person you knew would show up when you needed her the most. She had a way of making people feel like they belonged all while having so much fun. For some of us, she offered something that is difficult to find: family. She didn’t need to have known you your whole life to make you feel like you belonged in hers. She made room for people, and she supported them.”

One of the other drivers whose car was hit, Jaime Pawliuk, described the experience as “absolutely unbelievable.” He recounted to CBC how the plane “was on top of me” suddenly, shattering his sunroof. “I tried to swerve as much as I could to get into the ditch, but unfortunately I was only able to make it just a little ways before the wing just sheared the entire top of my vehicle off and showered me with glass,” Pawliuk stated, noting superficial cuts on his hands and glass in his hair.

Another driver, Mohit Arora, narrowly escaped danger, claiming a propeller from the plane almost struck his car. “It just stopped like 10 feet ahead from my car. I am so lucky that the fan and the blades did not hit my car,” Arora shared.

In total, ten individuals received medical assessment at the crash site, with two requiring hospitalization for injuries, though they were reported to be in stable condition. Authorities indicate that the official report on the Sekani Air plane crash could take several months to finalize.