Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 02/03) - Two people have been charged after a pound of crack cocaine was found in a crashed car, Hay River RCMP report.

Police were called out after a vehicle rolled over during an accident on Highway 1 south of Enterprise, between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Dec. 23.

The car was headed north to Yellowknife, police said.

The occupants, who were rescued by police, suffered minor injuries.

Hay River RCMP obtained a search warrant and sniffed out over a pound of crack cocaine from the mangled 1995 Buick Park Avenue.

Police said they had tips about drugs being transported along the highway and people involved but didn't know where the drugs were until the accident.

"The accident was a bonus," said Cpl. Gary Asels.

Asels said there is "lots" of cocaine available in the NWT but not usually in such a large quantity.

"It's certainly a large amount. We haven't had this much recently."

Police said the cocaine has a street value of over $60,000.

A 21-year-old Yellowknife woman and 41-year-old Alberta man have been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

They are to appear in Hay River territorial court Monday.

Neither of them have any previous criminal convictions.