Prince George, BC – News that a Prince George family of four were the victims of a fiery crash on Highway 97, near McLeese Lake earlier today, has left colleagues and friends struggling with their grief this evening.

40-year-old Matt Altizer, his wife, Leah, and their two children, Jonathan who was in grade 8 and Emily who was in grade 6, were driving to Vancouver to fulfill Altizer’s lifelong dream of attending a Davis Cup international tennis match.  RCMP say the Altizer’s vehicle crossed the centre line, into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer unit.  

Altizer was the Systems Manager at the Prince George Citizen newspaper.  Employees were told the devastating news before they left for home this evening.  

"He’s honestly just an irreplaceable guy," says Interim Publisher, Colleen Sparrow.  "He’s probably one of the smartest men I’ve ever known – there wasn’t a problem you couldn’t take to him, without him coming back with the solution for you." 

Sparrow worked with Altizer for more than 15-years.  "You can’t work with someone for that long and not have them become dear to you and I know there are many at the Citizen who feel the same way I do."

"He had an amazing smile and was just a pleasure to work with and be around – it’s a huge loss for our team, we’re a family and we’re truly going to miss him."