Human remains found in historical plane crash identified
Credit to Author: Stephanie Ip| Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:18:11 +0000
The identities of two victims killed in a 1987 plane crash just unearthed last year have been confirmed.
In September 2018, Clearwater RCMP and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre found a plane-crash site in a remote area near McDougall Lake in Wells Gray Provincial Park. Human remains were also found inside the plane.
“The distinctively old crash site was amongst extremely rugged and very treacherous terrain. The scene, which was not accessible by any roadways or trails, was difficult to reach due to steep inclines and the year-round snowpack,” said Sgt. Grant Simpson of the Clearwater RCMP.
Investigators determined the crashed aircraft was a Piper Super Cub float plane that had departed from an area north of Salmon Arm on June 20, 1987, carrying two people. The plane was reported missing shortly after departure and hadn’t been seen since.
After the discovery of the crash site and the human remains last year, police used DNA analysis to identify the two victims.
On Monday, RCMP finally confirmed the remains belonged to Ernie Whitehead and Len Dykhuizen, both Eagle Bay residents at the time of their disappearance.
“RCMP are pleased that we have now been able to provide their family with answers to some long-standing questions. This discovery ends over three decades of uncertainty,” said RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.