Possible sighting of Oregon family who vanished in northern B.C. after going for gas

There has been a possible break in the search for an American family who vanished in northern B.C. after abandoning their vehicle near the side of the highway around Dease Lake.

Investigators are looking for Oregonians Jeffrey Phan and Michelle Lesaca, both 24 years old, along with their three-year-old, Satana, and two-year-old, Satan.

The family had left their black, 2018 Toyota Yaris with the Oregon licence plate 099KRW about 250 kilometres south of the Yukon border.

It was found on Monday with a note in it suggesting they had run out of gas and gone to get fuel, but police said they’d never arrived at any nearby gas station.

On Wednesday afternoon Dease Lake RCMP said an air search by Terrace, Stewart and Smithers Search and Rescue had spotted four people in the backcountry “matching the description of the family.”

Crews are now working to reach the four people, who have not been conclusively identified as the family, and bring them to safety.

The disappearance had puzzled police in the area.

The car was discovered on June 18, but police believe it had been left parked about just off the highway since at least Sunday, June 10.

Investigators contacted Oregon police and the missing peoples’ family, and learned that the four had planned to travel to the Philippines last month, but later changed their plans.

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The family had checked into the Portland airport on Friday, May 25 — but then cancelled their tickets and never boarded the plane.

They then crossed into Canada at the Roosville border crossing near Fernie on June 9, police said.

Anyone who has information about the missing family is urged to contact the Dease Lake RCMP.