Iqaluit (Apr 21/03) - Iqaluit RCMP Sgt. Greg Bursey says no charges are pending following an accident that claimed the life of a young Iqaluit girl over Toonik Tyme weekend.

Four-year-old Sheila Mathewsie was killed instantly when a city sewer truck hit her as she attempted to cross the street near the 500 block.

The accident happened at noon on April 12.

Mathewsie's was the second accidental death of an Iqaluit youth in as many days. A day earlier at 10 a.m. Kenneth Kilabuk was killed while snowmobiling.

Kilabuk, 14, a former resident of Iqaluit, was in town visiting from Garden Hill, a small community in southern Ontario near the Kawartha Lakes city of Lindsay, 130 kilometres northeast of Toronto.

The accidents had a profound impact on the community. Toonik Tyme closing ceremonies were cancelled in a show of respect for the families.

500 block tragedy

RCMP said that in the case of the accident with the sewer truck, witness reports indicate that the little girl darted out onto the road into the path of the vehicle.

The police are still investigating the incident, but Bursey said there is no indication of any wrongdoing on the part of the driver.

"There are no charges pending at this point," he added.

The investigation also suggests that Mathewsie was alone at the time of the accident, according to Const. Todd Walsh.

Mayor John Matthews said the trucks are inspected on a daily basis and the truck involved was believed to be in good working order.

The city truck was seized following the accident for a routine inspection. Two city employees who were in the vehicle were given compassionate leave with full pay. In particular, Matthews said, the incident was very hard on the driver.

"He's very, very upset. It's a big tragedy to come to grips with," said Matthews.

The accident also had an impact on city operations. On Sunday only one truck was on the road. Matthews said the other city truck was in for maintenance. The truck has since been recommissioned and city chief administrative officer Ian Fremantle said it was cleared to return to service.

This is the second accident in two years involving a city truck, which brings into question how drivers are trained.

Fremantle said every driver must have the proper licensing before being considered for a position with the city. He did not know if that licensing included defensive driving courses.

According the Nunavut Arctic College, which hasn't offered the course in five years, the program outline for the course does not include defensive driving.

The course outline includes operation, theory, maintenance and 280 hours operating machinery.

Penny Dominix-Nadeau, Nunatta campus registrar, said the program prepares drivers for entry level into the workplace.

Circumstances surrounding Kilabuk's accident are also still being investigated.

According to RCMP the young boy was operating a snowmobile on a trail behind Baffin Hospital when it struck a utility pole guide wire.

As a result, Kilabuk sustained serious injuries. Hospital staff immediately arrived on scene to deliver medical attention and Kilabuk was later medevaced to hospital in Ottawa.

It was in Ottawa that he later died.

Mac Maidens, Nunavut Power Corporation area superintendent, said that guide wires are usually marked by yellow cones attached to the wire.

"Unfortunately they make great noises and kids bang on them and in the winter they shatter," he said.

He added that every summer the power corporation replaces a number of the cones that have been broken over the winter.

He could not confirm whether or not the cone was attached to the guide wire at the time or not.

Fourteen is the minimum age that a youth can operate a snowmobile without being accompanied by an adult according to city bylaws.

Tim Neily, Nunavut's chief coroner, said he cannot recall any recommendations made in the last five years to have that age restriction increased.

Neily's office is also investigating the deaths but he is unsure if there will be any recommendations made.