Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 16/01) - A collision between a gravel truck and a pickup claimed the lives of two men Friday on the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk ice-road.
James Gruben, 43, a well-know figure in the delta, died at a the scene. His passenger in the pickup, Jean Vondrach, 25, died en route to Inuvik Hospital. Sources said that one of Gruben's sons was driving the gravel truck.
The accident took place shortly after midnight.
The force of the collision sent the gravel truck out of control and into the path of a second gravel truck. Drivers of the gravel trucks were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Inuvik RCMP Const. Chris Self said "this is a fairly significant event.
"Mr. Gruben was well-known in the area and a lot of people are calling us about this."
