Sand pit puddle swallows vehicles
Dawn Ostrem
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 01/00) - A pickup truck crashed through ice at the sand pits Sunday with its lone occupant and a dog inside.
Brian Piro and his dog escaped unharmed by rolling down the driver's side window, squeezing through it and fumbling their way to shore before the truck sank slowly under the icy water.
Although he was familiar with the area, Piro said the layout at the pits is always changing because of excavating. But he decided it would be relatively safe to follow the tracks of other vehicles.
A huge puddle was hidden under a sheath of snow. The puddle is estimated to be about eight- to 10-feet deep and 150 by 100 feet in area.
"There was a real beaten path," Piro said. "I hesitated going in but was looking for my other dog."
Now Piro is feeling lucky to have walked away from the incident but also upset with the City of Yellowknife for not warning anyone of the danger.
His is not the first vehicle to plunge into the giant puddle. The sand pit area, located on Highway 3, is a popular recreation area where many people walk their dogs and 4x4 enthusiasts like to drive.
Garth Eggenberger of Age Automotive said he has pulled out four or five people and two abandoned vehicles from the area this year.
On Oct. 14, a vehicle broke through a thin layer of ice covering the puddle. The driver of the sport utility vehicle was treated for suspected hypothermia by emergency medical technicians.
He also had a dog in his vehicle but in that case it didn't survive.
Drainage area
The city's director of public works. Gary Craig, said he's been told runoff has collected there for nearly 20 years.
After the latest incident, the fire department set up temporary warning signs but they will be replaced.
"We're going to be putting a snow fence around the pond area and put some (danger) signs up (early this week)," Craig said.
"I don't know if that will be a long-term solution or there might be some permanent solution next year."
Piro is pleased they are taking some measures now but is unhappy that for him it's too late. He also believes the city is making excuses for not dealing with the problem earlier.
"I used to haul sand out of there myself and I know (the puddle) hasn't been there in 20 years," he said.
"You have to be out there every day to know where the hazards are.
"It's like all business - if you create a hazard it's up to you to take care of it."
Piro, a mechanic for 25 years, said he believes his 1994 Ford half-ton could be a writeoff due to water damage to the electrical system.
