2 dead in helicopter crash east of Prince George, B.C., Transportation Safety Board says
Two people are dead and four others are injured following a helicopter crash east of Prince George, B.C., investigators say.
In a release, RCMP say they were notified of the crash near the Purden Hill ski area along Highway 16, about 55 kilometres east of the central Interior city, around 7:45 a.m. PT Tuesday and responded with other emergency services.
Mounties say there were six people on board the Bell 206L helicopter that went down near Purden Skil Hill, a resort off Highway 16.
The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has confirmed two people were killed and they are headed to the scene to investigate.
Four other people were injured and transported to hospital, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services.
The B.C. Coroners Service, a search and rescue team and fire crews are also on scene, as were an RCMP helicopter and a total of six ambulances.
RCMP Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said in a release that the helicopter was privately owned and had been chartered to do some flights in the area.
She said details about the cause of the crash are still being investigated, and the TSB would be taking the lead since the accident involved an aircraft.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline and rail transportation crashes or accidents.
Crash was in forested area: RCMP
A CBC News reporter said the staging area for emergency responders was at Purden Lake resort, which is west of the ski hill, on the north side of Highway 16.
RCMP have asked motorists in the area to slow down and give emergency crews room to access the crash site.
Emergency vehicles pictured Tuesday at a staging area near the scene of a helicopter crash along Highway 16, about an hour east of Prince George, B.C. (Kate Partridge/CBC)
Cooper said the area where the helicopter went down is forested and not easily accessible by emergency vehicles.
Cell service in the area is limited.
