The Cranbrook Daily Townsman told the Canadian Broadcast Corp. the victims included three people in the copter and a pedestrian.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the aircraft belonged to a charter service, Bighorn Helicopter Inc., the CBC reported. The cause of the accident had not been determined but witnesses said the helicopter appeared to be flying low, possibly checking BC Hydro power lines.

A spokesperson for the Transportation Safety Board told the network three investigators were en route to the scene from Vancouver.

Joe Pierre said the helicopter crashed near his vehicle.

"I came across the intersection and the next thing I know my car is being slammed and there's an explosion right beside me and it's that helicopter," Pierre said. "It exploded right beside me. … I'm pretty freaked out right now."