Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 17/02) - One person was injured and two businesses sustained property damage as a result of a single-vehicle accident on Old Airport Road last Friday morning.

The RCMP were called to the accident near Force One at 1:50 a.m.

Doug Witty, owner of Force One, said he hasn't heard much from the RCMP as of yet but said a vehicle was running at high speed when it slammed into a power pole and fence jointly owned by Force One and Tli Cho Landtran Transport Ltd.

"(The car) sort of wedged itself between the power pole and our fence and when it did that the power cable swung out and hit our satellite dish and ripped it off," he said.

The power pole sustained considerable damage while the fence post was ripped out of the cement and badly bent about two feet inward.

The portion of the fence that was damaged belongs to Tli Cho Landtran Transport Ltd.

"Whoever it was they obviously were badly hurt because they hit pretty hard," said Witty.

Witty estimates the cost of damage will run into the thousands of dollars. He said putting in a new fence will probably cost at least $1,500 and the satellite repairs are expected to cost a few hundred dollars.

As for insurance coverage for the damage, Witty said "somebody's insurance company will cover it I'm sure, but I'm not sure who is paying for it just yet."

Sgt. Al McCambridge of the Yellowknife RCMP confirmed one person was injured in the accident.

He believes the collision occurred between 1 and 1:50 a.m. Friday. McCambridge said the matter is still under investigation and it's possible that criminal charges will be laid.