Death classified as accidental
Phil Duffy
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (May 28/01) - Michael Proulx of Yellowknife died last August shortly after the mini-van he was driving flipped on highway 3 at about 11 p.m.
The Chief Coroner's report was released Friday found that the immediate cause of death was drowning.
Proulx's overall poor health also contributed to his death.
The 49 year-old man was returning from a trip to North Arm Park with his wife Esther and their son when the accident occurred. They received only minor injuries.
According to the RCMP investigation, the vehicle was not exceeding the speed limit, the driver and passengers were wearing seat belts, and road conditions were not a major contributing factor.
Proulx lost control of the vehicle when his right front tire caught the loose gravel on a sharp curve. The vehicle rolled and came to rest on its roof in a shallow, water-filled ditch.
"Mr. Proulx was a large individual who was hanging upside down, and his weight quite likely hindered him from keeping his head clear of the water," said Chief Coroner Percy Kinney.
"His extra weight could also have added additional pressure from the confining seat belt pressed against his diaphragm, making it very difficult to breathe," he added.
