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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The priest of St. Patrick's Church had only just finished blessing the parishioner's brand new car.

Then, "Smash!" recalled Father Theodore Nnorol. The car hit the utility pole standing in the alley behind the parking lot - about two feet outside of church property.

Melanie Hopkins and Father Theodore Nnorol stand in front of the problem pole with Hopkins' dented van. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL Photo

While it may have been the first after-blessing crash, it wasn't the first crash involving the pole. At least one person, and usually more, reports hitting the pole each week, said Nnorol. The other pastor has hit it twice.

"We don't know how to handle it," Nnorol said. "It's sad, because it mostly happens to those who come to worship."

Melanie Hopkins may not have been one of those worshippers but on Aug. 25 she did become a veteran of the ongoing battle with the pole.

Hopkins was at the church for its bi-weekly rummage sale. While backing out of the lot, she smashed the rear end of her van against the pole, which Hopkins said was in her blind spot.

"I've never been in a car accident before," she said. "At least it was just a pole."

She might not have done anything besides call her insurance agent if it weren't for the four people who came up to her within the next five minutes to share their own vehicle-versus-pole experiences.

Hopkins contacted the City of Yellowknife and Northland Utilities to see if anything can be done to make drivers more aware of the pole. She also filled out an RCMP report and is trying to file a claim for damages.

"People come out of the church feeling refreshed and renewed," said Hopkins. "And then they hit a pole."

She said she was told by both the city and Northland Utilities, which owns the pole, that the church or anybody else besides Northland Utilities is not allowed to affix anything to the pole to warn drivers of the danger.

"We try to avoid putting big signs on poles because it becomes a hazard for our lineman," said Northland Utilities operating superintendent Albert Bouchard.

He added there are some cases where a small tag is attached to the pole, such as if there's high ground voltage.

The tag "is saying danger high voltage. But it's not danger, don't run into the pole."

Bouchard also said it's the first he's heard of somebody trying to file a claim with Northland Utilities for running into one of its poles.

"This is certainly a unique case where a person runs into our pole and they're claiming we should be looking at covering the cost."

When contacted, director of public works Dennis Kefalas asked, "she's hitting a pole, so how does this become the city's problem?

"I mean, really, you're supposed to be in control of your vehicle at all times. I can't really comment on her driving skills.

"I'm not sure really what we can do. (The pole) is there, people know it's there."

He added that without more investigation into the situation, he couldn't comment further on how the city could act.

It will cost Hopkins $4,802.28 if she wants to fix the surface damages the collision caused to her vehicle.

Bouchard suggested building a concrete barricade around the pole, but even if that were done, he admitted, there would still be a structure for people to run into.

The church has another solution, which came out of a church council meeting regarding the pole. Nnorol said he would like to put a bicycle rack in front of the pole, which would alert drivers to the space and block the pole.

Hopkins would just like to see something done.

"I'd like to see somebody be proactive," she said.