Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 16/99) - A Fort Resolution boy was crushed to death last week when he was run over by a 180-tonne truck.

The truck, which was travelling about five km/h at the time, had just pulled away from a house after making a routine stop to pick up sewage at 10:30 a.m.

RCMP believe the truck was turning right around a corner when the boy, who was riding his bike in the opposite direction, came around the same corner and slipped under the double-rear wheels of the loaded truck.

"The truck was on a regular route doing normal Tuesday operations," said Cpl. Brad Kaeding.

"Perhaps if the truck hadn't been loaded the situation wouldn't have been as awful as it was."

The driver did not see the boy until after the accident and charges against him are not being considered.

Following the accident, however, a routine inspection of the truck was conducted, revealing it was operating with only 50 per cent braking capacity. The owner of the truck has subsequently been charged under the Motor Vehicle Act's vehicle equipment regulations for having a vehicle in operation with less than 80 per cent braking capacity.

RCMP say that the brakes had nothing to do with accident, as the driver did not see the boy and therefore did not attempt to brake.

The family held funeral services on the weekend.