Mom of Two K.i.l.l.e.d Instantly as Plane Drops From Sky Onto Her Car — Daughter Watches in Horror on Busy Highway
A devoted mother of two lost her life in a shocking accident when a twin-engine aircraft made an emergency landing on a busy road and struck her vehicle, right in front of her young daughter.
Alex Garneau was driving along Foothills Boulevard in Prince George, British Columbia, on the afternoon of August 20, 2026, with her daughter Josie. Without warning, a Beechcraft King Air 200 turboprop aircraft descended onto the roadway after one of its engines lost power. The plane, operated by Sekani Air and carrying two crew members and six passengers, had departed the remote Sturdee airstrip roughly 650 kilometres northwest of the city. It was only about 13 miles short of Prince George Airport when the power failure forced the pilot to land on the highway.
The aircraft struck four vehicles. Garneau’s car was among those hit. She was killed at the scene. Josie survived with only minor injuries and was able to walk away from the wreckage. Garneau leaves behind her husband Jordan and their two children, Josie and Jackson — both active in hockey. Friends and community members have described her as a dedicated “hockey mom” who stayed behind the scenes of nearly every team and activity her children joined. She organized, cheered, drove, and supported other families, creating a sense of belonging for many in Prince George’s youth sports community.
One of the other drivers involved, Jaime Pawliuk, was heading to work when the plane appeared. He managed to swerve toward a ditch, but the aircraft’s wing still sheared the top of his vehicle, shattering the sunroof and showering him with glass. He escaped with cuts and minor injuries, later describing the moment as something that “only happens in movies.” Other motorists reported near-misses with the plane’s propellers. Emergency crews treated 10 people at the scene; two were taken to hospital in stable condition. Remarkably, none of the eight people on board the aircraft suffered injuries.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has taken control of the investigation. Preliminary information indicates the loss of power in one engine triggered the emergency landing. Investigators are examining the aircraft, flight data, and maintenance records. The plane has been moved to a nearby site for further analysis. Final findings could take months.
The tragedy has left the Prince George community reeling. Garneau was known not only as a mother and sports supporter but as someone who consistently showed up for others. A fundraising campaign launched for her husband and children quickly received strong local support, reflecting the impact she had on the families around her.
Emergency landings on roadways are rare but not unheard of when aircraft experience sudden mechanical failures far from an airport. In this case, the combination of engine trouble, limited remaining distance to the runway, and the presence of traffic on a major arterial road produced a devastating outcome. While the pilot successfully brought the plane down without harming those on board, the human cost on the ground was irreversible.
Alex Garneau’s death underscores how quickly ordinary moments can turn catastrophic. A mother simply driving with her daughter became the victim of an extraordinary chain of events. Her children, husband, and the wider sports community now face the sudden absence of a woman who quietly held so much of their daily lives together.
