PRINCE GEORGE

Tuesday, September 26, 2023. Last updated at 12:40 pm.

UPDATE 2 – Two people have died and four others are hurt following a helicopter crash early Tuesday morning.

Police say a total of six people were onboard the helicopter when it crashed. The helicopter was chartered to do some flights around the Prince George region and was privately owned. The helicopter crashed into a forested area near Purden Lake ski hill and cannot be accessed by a vehicle.

Next of kin is in progress. The Transportation Safety Board is enroute to the scene and will take over the investigation from the RCMP. BC Coroners Service will also conduct an investigation into what happened.

No more details are expected.

UPDATE 1 – BC Ambulance confirms six ambulances headed to the scene just after 7:30 am. A total of four people were taken by ambulance to UHNBC here in Prince George. Their condition is unknown at this time.

Police and emergency crews from Prince George and Pineview are currently on scene of a helicopter crash near Purden Lake ski hill on Highway 16, approximately 50 km east of Prince George.

Police say at 7:45 AM, emergency crews were notified of an aircraft incident on Highway 16 East.

DriveBC posted earlier about the incident and they are asking motorists to slow down in the area of the incident. The highway is not closed but expect delays.

“Our initial information indicates there were multiple people on board the aircraft. The extent of their injuries is currently unknown. We are asking that anyone driving past that area today remember to give emergency crews plenty of room to work if they are on the highway, by slowing down and moving over and to obey flagger signals,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP.

Details of this incident are still being gathered.

More information may be made available as it comes in.