Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Baker Lake (May 01/01) - A Baker Lake teenager is dead following a snowmobile accident earlier this month.

Erin Carruthers-Shaw, 18, was one of three people on the snowmobile when its driver lost control.

The snowmobile hit a garbage can, veered sharply and struck a utility pole.

Two others on the snowmobile, Jocelyn Pupik and Paul Tuluqtuq, survived the accident.

The officer in charge of the Baker Lake detachment of the RCMP, Cpl. Jamie Zettler, said the RCMP were notified of the accident at about 2:30 a.m. on April 20.

Police and members of the nursing staff arrived at the accident scene soon after.

Carruthers-Shaw was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tuluqtuq was transported to Churchill, Man., for medical treatment of non life-threatening injuries.

Pupik was treated at the Baker Lake nursing station and later released.

Zettler said the accident happened on the road near the Baker Lake Contracting Services office.

"We can't release much information because we're still investigating the accident," said Zettler.

"We're waiting for a number of results to return and, until that happens, we can't go into any more detail. We expect to have the results back during the next three to four weeks."

Zettler would neither confirm nor deny that alcohol was a contributing factor in Carruthers-Shaw's death.

He also would not comment on whether charges will be laid.

"I would rather wait until all our results come back," he said.

An emotional memorial service was held for the teenager this past week in Baker Lake and Zettler reported the community is in a sombre mood following the fatality.

"Obviously, it's a very difficult time for friends and family members of those involved in the accident. The hamlet is grieving the loss of a young community member.

"We'll be able to identify the contributing factors to the accident once our results come back -- and a few issues that possibly could have prevented this tragedy -- but, it certainly appears as though this was a preventable fatality."