Police are searching for a family of four after their vehicle was found abandoned near the powerline about 500 metres off Highway 97 near Dease Lake on Monday.
The vehicle, a black 2018 Toyota Yaris with Oregon license plate 099KRW, had a sign on it indicating that the driver had possibly run out of fuel and had gone to get some help, however all checks with area gas stations have been unsuccessful.
Police believe that the vehicle has been in the Dease Lake area since Sunday, June 10. Filipino family Jeffrey Phan, 24, Michelle Lesaca, 24, Santana Phan, 3, and Satan Phan, 2, were travelling in the vehicle.
RCMP have contacted the Oregon police and family of the missing people. Apparently the family planned to travel to the Philippines but later changed their plans. Evidence suggests that on Friday, May 25, they checked into the airport in Portland, Oregon but cancelled their tickets and never boarded the plane.
Police have learned that the vehicle and family entered Canada at the Roosville Border crossing near Fernie on June 9.
RCMP, Search and Rescue are presently searching the area where the vehicle was found. Authorities are presently conducting ground and air searches and RCMP dog team from Terrace is assisting in these efforts.
