PGA pro and children among eight killed in plane crash

One of the victims killed when two planes collided over a lake in northern Idaho on Monday has been identified as PGA pro Sean Fredrickson.

Eight people, including three children, were killed when the two planes collided in mid-air over Lake Coeur d' Alene.

The children have since been identified as Fredrickson’s 16-year-old son Hayden and and two stepchildren, 16-year-old Sofia Olsen and 11-year-old Quinn Olsen.

“The plane was piloted by Neil Lunt, a 58-year-old male from Liberty Lake,” the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said.

“Also in the plane was passenger Sean K. Fredrickson, a 48-year-old male from Lake Oswego, Oregon, a 16-year-old female, an 11-year-old male and 16-year-old male.

“The juveniles listed are the children and stepchildren of Sean.”

PGA pays tribute to ‘rising star’ Fredrickson

Fredrickson was the president of the Pacific Northwest PGA section, described as a “rising star” in the sport and an “incredible” father, husband and mentor.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our friend and President Sean Fredrickson,” the PGA said in a statement.

“Sean was an incredible father, husband, PGA Professional, mentor, and leader.

“There are never words to communicate the pain of such a loss. Whether through prayer or quiet reflection, please hold Sean and his family in your hearts.”

Fredrickson also was head golf professional at Oswego Lake Country Club and had led the PGA’s Pacific Northwest action for over 10 years.

“A rising star in the PGA, Sean led the Section through an unprecedented time, first taking the reins a year early as President and then leading us wisely through this pandemic,” the PGA said.

“We are all better because of Sean’s leadership over the past twelve years.”

Frederickson’s wife April said her family were on their first summer holiday together.

“My family died while they were on an adventure,” April told Oregon news station KPTV.

“Everyone was so excited to be on that plane… I think that, at the end of the day, they died doing what they loved which was, you know, being together.”

Witnesses describe tragic plane collision

One of the aircraft was a float plane operated by Brooks Seaplane of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, which operates charter flights for tourists over Lake Coeur d' Alene, the sheriff's office said.

The second plane was a Cessna 206 that was carrying at least two people, the sheriff's office said.

A sheriff's dive team found the wreckage in about 40 meters of water.

The large and popular lake, which is surrounded by vacation homes, was busy with boaters on the Fourth of July weekend.

Numerous personal boats went to the scene immediately in search of survivors. The sheriff’s marine teams, fire departments and the US Coast Guard also responded.

Witnesses told news outlets they saw the two airplanes flying towards each other and colliding in mid-air, then plunging a few hundred feet into the lake.

“You could just see debris falling with it and can tell it was obviously an airplane in the sky,” witness Angie Bishop told KREM-TV.

The air space over the lake did not appear to be any more crowded than usual on Sunday, sheriff's Lt. Ryan Higgins said.

“We don't have any clue what happened,” he added, other than the planes collided.

with Associated Press