Iqaluit (Oct 25/04) - An inquest into the deaths of four people caused by public works vehicles has been set for the week of Jan. 24, in the Iqaluit courthouse.

Nunavut chief coroner Tim Neily had planned the inquest for this fall.

"The only reason is scheduling," Neily said, adding it was hard to co-ordinate the number people of testifying.

City councillors and staff have been cautioned by the organization's insurance company not to testify without first consulting the insurer.

Four-year-old Sheila Mathewsie died after being hit by an Iqaluit water truck in April 2003.

In the same month, three-year-old Adamie Nookiguak died after being struck by a hamlet water truck in Qikiqtarjuaq.

Margaret Jeffrey was run over by a front end loader in Iqaluit in September 2003.

Iyukaq Kupapik suffered the same fate as Jeffrey, also in Iqaluit, in December 2000.

This summer, Neily said the coroner's office is not interested in laying blame for the incident, merely "fact finding."