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Alleged hit and run Behchoko family says ice cream truck driver ran over boy's leg
Daniel Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 19, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A mother and father from Behchoko are alleging Yellowknife's ice cream truck ran over their son's leg on Monday in Rae.
Eight-year-old Edzee Huskey had surgery early Tuesday morning for an in jury his parents allege was caused by Yellowknife's ice cream truck. - Daniel Campbell/NNSL photo |
Eight-year-old Edzee Huskey was admitted to Stanton Territorial Hospital late Monday night and underwent surgery on his injured leg early Tuesday morning.
Joline Huskey, the boy's mother, said her son is still in hospital and in considerable pain.
"His leg was really swollen, I think it's broken in a few places. (Doctors) had to cut open both sides of his ankle to release the swelling," Huskey said.
She said her son was getting ice cream late Monday night with a group of other children, when somehow the ice cream truck rolled over her son's leg and kept on driving.
"He didn't bother to stop and check him out or help him. He didn't report it to the RCMP," she said.
Huskey said after the incident another boy loaded Edzee onto a four-wheeler and drove him to his grandfather's house to call the hospital and police.
Tamer Akbulut, Yellowknife's only ice cream truck driver, has been serving children cool treats in and around Yellowknife since 2007. Akbulut confirms he was driving in Rae Monday evening, but said he has no memory of injuring anyone.
He said he's usually worried driving around Rae because children there can be more aggressive or get too close to his truck.
"It's always been very difficult to work in Rae," Akbulut said, "there are many, many kids and they're getting too close and too excited when they see the truck."
Akbulut said he drives very slowly through communities and warns children to stay away from his truck when he's driving.
RCMP were unable to comment on the alleged incident, but Akbulut said he's provided a written statement to police and is waiting to hear any more information from them.
"I hope if something happened the kid is OK. I will feel really bad if it was caused by me," Akbulut said.
Peter Huskey, the boy's father, said he's not happy the ice cream truck drives around in his community late at night.
"After hours the kids should be running home not after an ice cream truck. He (Akbulut) should be parked after 6 p.m., not driving around," Huskey said.
The boy's mother said the ice cream truck has begun to wear on her community's nerves.
"He doesn't leave the community until midnight, it gets really annoying. I think he makes more money in Behchoko than in Yellowknife," she said.
Huskey said she's happy her son is not more seriously hurt. She expects to stay with him at the hospital for the next few weeks and hopes her son doesn't have any longterm injuries.
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