Fort McPherson (Nov 08/04) - No one was to blame for an accident which claimed the life of a Fort McPherson teacher last February, according to the RCMP.

"It was found our member was not at fault on this. The victim was not at fault, either," said Yellowknife RCMP Sgt. Daryl Key.

The investigation is now considered closed by the RCMP.

Kira Epstein, 33, was killed when her vehicle collided with an RCMP vehicle on Feb. 13 near Frog Creek on the Dempster Highway.

The off-duty RCMP officer driving the police vehicle sustained a broken arm and one of his passengers suffered a broken wrist and other minor lacerations.

Key said it was determined that road conditions were mainly to blame for the accident.

"It was the main contributing factor. Then what occurred was the loss of control of her vehicle, which was due to the poor road conditions," he said.

"Speed was not a factor. Both were found to be going well under the speed limit."

Epstein, originally from Winnipeg, taught at Chief Julius school in Fort McPherson for six years.

Percy Kinney, the NWT's chief coroner, said the cause of death was multiple, blunt traumas and the manner of death is listed as accidental.

Kinney said he is waiting to present his final conclusion on the case until he sees the report filed by the investigating coroner.