Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 02/05) - Police are warning drivers to slow down following a roll-over last week near the Sambaa Deh Falls - the fifth of the summer along Deh Cho highways.

A 2000 GMC Jimmy carrying five people flipped Aug. 22 after its Sandy Lake, Sask. driver lost control on Highway 1 about 120km outside of Fort Simpson.

One woman was medevaced to Yellowknife, but RCMP Cpl. Al Shepherd said there were no serious injuries.

Police believe the truck wandered onto the soft-gravel shoulder before veering back across the highway and flipping.

Shepherd said alcohol and road construction - crews were patching sections of Highway 1 last week - were not factors in the accident, which briefly closed the highway.

"We believe they were driving without due care and attention," he said.

Shepherd estimated the truck flipped three times before coming to rest on its side. A helicopter brought one of the victims to Fort Simpson before they were transferred to Yellowknife, Shepherd said.

The roll-over was the fifth of the year along the sometimes-precarious highways that cross the Deh Cho.

Two cars flipped along the Liard Highway in June and police believe alcohol was behind accidents in July and August.

Charges are pending against those drivers.

"Sometimes it's a racetrack between Fort Simpson and Hay River," said Shepherd. "People need to slow down."