Prince George, B.C. – The regional coroner’s office has completed its identification and examination process in connection with the February 9^th two-vehicle collision that claimed the lives of five Prince George residents near McLeese Lake.

Coroner Donita Kuzma says through visual aspects and dental records the victims are positively identified as 40-year-old Mathew Altizer, his 36-year-old wife Leah, 14-year-old son Jonathan and 12-year-old daughter Emily and Mathew’s 47-year-old sister Heather Kress. Kuzma says cause of death has been established as being as a result of a motor vehicle incident, although the particulars have not been exclusively determined.

The Altizer S-U-V was travelling south when it crossed the centre line on a curve on Highway 97, about five kilometers north of McLeese Lake, and hit an oncoming tractor trailer head-on. The S-U-V wound up beneath the semi in a ditch where both vehicles burst into flame. The driver of the semi was not seriously hurt. The highway was bare and wet at the time.

Corporal Madonna Saunderson with Prince George Regional Provincial Traffic Services says the investigation of the accident is being conducted by members at the Williams Lake detachment. She says they spoke the day of the accident with a motorist who was travelling right behind the Altizer vehicle. That motorist had a major personal matter to attend to and police are planning to conduct a follow-up interview seeking further information.