by Jennifer Pritchett
Northern News Services

NNSL (June 2/97) - An Arctic Bay couple whose son died after he was run over by a water truck said that a review of safety policies by the territorial government may help reduce an increase in accidents.

"Because there's a lack of vehicles in the communities, there's a lack of safety conscience," said Cheryl McGraw.

McGraw's son, Carlton, died March 5 when he slipped under the back wheels of the community's water truck. He was 10 years old.

McGraw was the first of two young boys to die after being crushed by water trucks this winter in Northern communities.

Jacob Gary Thomas Oyakyoak died May 16 when the water truck was passing by his grandfather's front yard in Cambridge Bay. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another Cambridge Bay boy was medevaced out of the community the first week of May when his own father backed over him while driving the water truck.

McGraw said that many of the communities are in darkness 75 per cent of the year and the roads are often slippery, which may contribute to the number of accidents.

"Since this has happened, we've thought of keeping vehicles off the road at busy times when kids are getting out of school," she said. "The speed limit should also be monitored -- and not only (for) water trucks."

While all accidents were deemed completely accidental and no criminal charges laid, the territorial Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is looking into the tragedies.

"Given the fact there's been a high frequency of accidents, it's something we will be looking at," said Alan Shevkenek, manager of capital programs for the department.

While Shevkenek admitted that there's been quite a few accidents involving water trucks over the years, he said there's no policy that requires two drivers to be in the truck while delivering water.

"Some communities may choose to have two people in a cab to speed up delivery," he said. "But quite a few have only one driver to keep the cost of water delivery down."

He said that it would be difficult for the territorial government to force communities to put two men in a truck because of the current community-empowerment policy.

Shevkenek did say, however, that the department is looking at the accidents to determine if a review of their safety procedures is necessary.

"It's triggered us to take a review of our files and review previous accidents,' he said. "It may mean that we have to consult with the communities and let them know about the increased number of accidents."