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Matt Altizer, 40, his wife Leah and their two children, Jonathan, and Emily, died when their SUV collided head-on with a semi-trailer outside the town of McLeese Lake, B.C., on Thursday. ((Facebook))

People in Prince George, B.C., are feeling a “sense of loss” the morning after a couple and their two children were killed along with a family friend in a fiery crash Thursday five kilometres outside McLeese Lake.

Matt Altizer, 40, his wife, Leah and their two children — Jonathan, a Grade 8 student, and Emily, a Grade 6 student — died in the crash along with a family friend, Heather Kress.

The five were on their way to Vancouver to watch the Davis Cup tennis competition when RCMP say their SUV crossed the centre line of Highway 97, about 60 kilometres north of Williams Lake.

The SUV burst into flames as it crashed head-on with a semi-trailer. Police say the driver of the semi-trailer is in hospital in Williams Lake with minor injuries.

Initial reports were that road conditions at the time of the crash were bare and dry with excellent visibility. On Friday, police said further investigation revealed the highway was bare, but wet.

“There’s just a real sense of loss here, in Prince George,” said CBC reporter Brady Strachan.

“Everybody knows everybody, or knows someone who knows someone here. People are just shaking their head about such a tragedy, to have taken so many lives.”

Altizer had been the IT manager at the Prince George Citizen for over a decade, said interim publisher Coleen Sparrow.

“Quite honestly, right now, I can’t even believe it’s for real,” said Sparrow through tears. “It’s just a huge loss for this community.”

“The kids were at school and they were just his pride and joy. We’ll miss him,” said Sparrow.

Police say it’s too early to tell whether alcohol or speed were factors.

Officers continue to investigate why the Altizer family’s SUV crossed into oncoming traffic.