Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Tuktoyaktuk (Oct 13/03) - Curiosity almost killed two teens when they were hit by a police cruiser, Oct. 4.

Donovan Felix, 17, and his 16-year-old cousin, were standing on the side of the road watching a Tuktoyaktuk RCMP officer "doing his job" when the cruiser suddenly started towards them.

"He came flying backwards and he bumped me," said Felix. "It just about broke both my legs."

Felix said the car hit his cousin first, who was standing beside him, before hitting him and totalling his bike.

It was a busy night for Tuktoyaktuk RCMP, said Sgt. Joe Laughlin.

"Our members were responding to an absurd number of calls and disturbances that night."

The officer had been investigating a disturbance call. He'd arrested one person and had him in custody in the back of the police cruiser.

He was interviewing people about the incident when he got a call for back-up from the other on-duty member just after midnight, said Laughlin.

"As he reversed, he collided with two people, one aged 17 and one age 16, and a bicycle," said Laughlin.

Felix and his cousin were taken to the nursing station by the RCMP and then later released.

Felix said he has bruising under his knee cap and a swollen shin from the accident. For the first two days he said he couldn't walk but is doing much better now.

His bicycle, however, didn't fair so well.

"The bike is totalled," said Felix.

"I can't use it."

The frame and tires are bent and the spokes are sticking out, he said.

The officer remains on-duty. If he is found to have committed an offence under the traffic Act he could be charged, said Laughlin.

The accident is still under investigation, said Laughlin, adding there are many witnesses to interview.