Remains found at site of crashed plane near Revelstoke
REVELSTOKE – Remains have been found at the site of a plane crash near Revelstoke.
RCMP say in a news release that police and Parks Canada arrived at Glacier National Park yesterday, Sept. 11, at roughly 12 p.m. This was the wreckage site of a plane that had been reported missing to Revelstoke RCMP on Nov. 25, 2017.
The location of the wreckage is near the Trans-Canada Highway in the national park, roughly 60 kilometres east of Revelstoke.
“At this time we can confirm that the plane was the one in question,” says Revelstoke RCMP Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky in the release. “The plane had significant structural damage, and showed clear signs of a sudden and traumatic impact.”
A survey of the scene was completed to locate as much evidence as possible, and RCMP have confirmed remains were located. It's not yet been confirmed if the remains are human, and if so, the identities.
Revelstoke RCMP have had an open missing person and plane investigation since last December, which included looking for the two people on board, 31-year-old Ashley Bourgeault from Edmonton, and pilot 28-year-old Dominic Neron from Parkland County, Alta.
The plane had been en-route from Penticton to Edmonton last November.
Police completed a survey of the heavily wooded scene on Tuesday and Grabinsky says little was left of the small aircraft.
"The plane had significant structural damage, and showed clear signs of a sudden and traumatic impact," he says in the release.
The crash site was spotted by the crew of an ambulance service helicopter on Monday as they returned from an unrelated call and were flying fairly low because of poor conditions in the Rogers Pass area.
Clear weather and "a split-second glimpse of something" that didn't belong among the trees helped critical care paramedic Randy McLeod spot the mangled fuselage.
He says there had been regular discussions among the helicopter crew about the missing plane so he was immediately curious about the sighting.
Neron's sister, Tammy Neron, posted a note on her Facebook site on Tuesday after being contacted by police saying the discovery meant her birthday wish came true.
"Our families cannot thank each and every one of you enough for embracing us during what's been the hardest 10 months of our lives," she said.
Neron thanked police, search and rescue officials and everyone involved in looking for the aircraft.
Aerial footage of crash site.
When paramedics and air ambulance pilot discovered the missing plane they were able to relay exact coordinates to the RCMP – ending their 10 month search. pic.twitter.com/Z1h1JuMY5X
— Emerg Health Services (@BC_EHS) September 11, 2018
— With files from The Canadian Press
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