Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Jan 15/99) - After a fireworks display to mark the return of the sun to Inuvik skies earlier this month, 36-year-old Denis Savoie and his seven-year-old nephew Alexander Savoie-Esagok were hit by a snowmobile on Twin Lakes.

Savoie, who has a broken leg, was first medevaced to Yellowknife and then on to Edmonton and was set to return to Inuvik Jan. 12. Savoie-Esagok also has a broken leg but was cared for in Inuvik.

"We were walking on Twin Lakes and the guy on the Ski-Doo turned on his lights. He turned them off (and then back on)," Savoie-Esagok says.

"The Ski-Doo went full speed and then it just bumped us."

After the 16-year-old driver hit the two with the snowmobile, he kept driving, according to Savoie-Esagok.

Police say no charges have been laid yet, but a charge of failing to remain at the scene of an accident is pending.

Alcohol was not a factor.

The two were walking in a group with Savoie-Esagok's 10-year-old sister, Natasha Savoie-Esagok and his cousin, five-year-old Beau Savoie.

Once the two were hurt and lying on the ground, people started calling for help and fortunately there were several firefighters, ambulance staff and police around to respond quickly. The two were pulled by sleds to the ambulance.

Savoie-Esagok's mother, Darlene Esagok, says her son will have to wait two weeks for a walking cast that will enable him to go to school. The swelling is down and the pain is mostly gone and he is now battling a cold, she says.