Heartfelt tributes are being shared for a mother of two who tragically lost her life when a plane collided with her vehicle on a road in Prince George last week.
The victim has been named as Alex Garneau, who was involved in an incident where a twin-engine Beech King Air 200 made an emergency landing on Foothills Boulevard, crashing through three lanes of traffic and impacting four cars.
Garneau actively participated in her community, especially through sports, where she was known as an athlete, coach, and volunteer, particularly for the teams of her two school-aged children.
An online fundraiser established to assist her family describes Garneau as “a wife, a daughter, a sister, a friend, and the hockey mom,” who created a sense of belonging for everyone.
A small memorial has been placed alongside Foothills Boulevard in memory of Alex Garneau, who died on August 20 when a twin-engine plane making an emergency landing struck her vehicle. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)
“She was the driving force behind nearly every team and event that her children participated in,” the fundraiser states. “She organized, cheered, and made things happen. Her children are both remarkable individuals and hockey players, and she had high hopes for their futures.”
Similar expressions of grief have been seen in social media posts from organizations where she was active.
“Some individuals become such an integral part of the rink that it’s difficult to envision it without them. Alex Garneau was one of those individuals,” noted the Cariboo Cougars minor hockey club, describing her as “infectiously positive, always smiling,” and “incredibly creative.”
The Prince George Youth Volleyball Club shared a collage of images depicting Garneau as a high school athlete and later as a coach. (Prince George Youth Volleyball Club)
The Prince George Youth Volleyball Club remarked on her “enduring influence on the sport of volleyball in Prince George,” noting her journey from a high school player who joined Team B.C. to competing at the varsity level at Capilano University in North Vancouver. After returning to Prince George, she took on coaching duties with the club.
“She will be remembered for her smile, her laughter, and the positivity she brought to those around her,” the post states.
The fundraiser exceeded $100,000 within just two days of its launch, with organizers confirming that the funds will be directed to Garneau’s family.
Investigation ongoing
The twin-engine Beech King Air 200 that made an emergency landing on a Prince George road has been relocated to a nearby gravel pit where it is being secured and prepared for removal under the oversight of the Transportation Safety Board. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)
Currently, the inquiry into the cause of her death is still in progress. The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) reports that the plane executed an emergency landing after losing power in one of its engines.
The aircraft has been removed from the roadway and is now situated in a nearby gravel pit under the watchful eye of the TSB, which is heading the investigation.
According to the TSB, the plane was on its way to Prince George Airport from the remote Sturdee Airstrip.
Skidmarks extending approximately 200 meters are visible on Foothills Boulevard in Prince George, B.C., concluding where a plane making an emergency landing came to a halt after crashing through four vehicles. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC)
There were eight individuals on board: two pilots and six passengers, some of whom have been identified as resource workers. Fortunately, no injuries occurred among those on the plane.
The aircraft was registered to Sekani Air Ltd., a charter flight company based in Prince George, which has opted not to provide any comments.
Former TSB investigator Bill Yearwood stated that one of his primary inquiries is why the plane experienced difficulties, given that it should be capable of flying with one functioning engine.
He expressed suspicions that there might have been other contributing factors and highlighted that pilots are trained to react swiftly in emergencies, often facing “no easy options.”
“When you’re going down, there’s no time to deliberate on a landing spot, and if your options are limited, you must make do with what’s available,” he explained.
