Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 02/99) - The hamlet of Baker Lake is in mourning after a young toddler was struck and fatally injured by a vehicle in that community on July 28.

Baker Lake RCMP Cpl. Tim Walton says at about 10.45 a.m., two-year-old Maigie Qaqimat was apparently playing in the driveway of a private residence. She was fatally struck by a pick-up truck driven by a visitor to the home, who was backing up at the time.

The driver of the vehicle immediately rushed the two-year-old to the Baker Lake Health Centre. The toddler was treated at the centre and then transported from Baker to a Churchill, Manitoba, hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Walton said alcohol was not involved in the incident. Police are still investigating the matter and further information will be released pending the completion of the investigation.

"As you can imagine, the driver is pretty shaken up by this tragedy and we want to give him a little more time before interviewing him again to wrap this up," said Cpl. Walton.

Qaqimat's body will be shipped back to the family from Churchill for burial in Baker Lake.