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UPDATE: 2 taken to hospital after plane crashes into lake near Maple Ridge

Transported by boat to air ambulance
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An ambulance leaves the scene at Alouette Lake where a plane crashed Thursday afternoon. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Two survivors were taken to hospital after a plane crashed into Alouette Lake in Maple Ridge on Thursday afternoon.

Camper Dana Richard of Surrey watched the plane crash from the shore near Alouette campground. She was alone at the beach, and watched the small plane banking over the lake, and then banking again, coming in low.

To her horror, the wingtip hit the water, and the result was catastrophic.

“The whole frickin’ thing came apart, and it sunk within 60 seconds,” said Richard.

Next, she saw two people in the water, and could hear a man’s voice. Richard tried to call 911, but most of the Golden Ears Provincial Park is a dead zone for cell phone service.

To her relief, a group of kayakers soon came to render assistance to the two people.

Then a helicopter was in the air, and emergency responders descended on the scene.

First responders were called to Gold Creek Campground in Golden Ears Park at around 3:30 p.m..

According to Ridge Meadows RCMP, the two occupants of the plane were quickly located by nearby boaters and safely brought to shore. The pilot and passenger were treated at scene by Emergency Health Services and transported to hospital for further assessment. All parties are accounted for and there are no fatalities.

Multiple Ridge Meadows RCMP police units, the RCMP Air 5 helicopter and the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team all responded to the incident. Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue was also activated for this incident.

The Transportation Safety Board has been notified and police have no further information at this time.

READ ALSO: Three saved after float plane accident on Thomas Lake, north of Maple Ridge

ALSO: Report unveils final moments before still-missing Cessna crashed into Fraser River in June


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