Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Paddle Prairie, Alta (Aug 29/05) - A traffic accident in northern Alberta that left one man dead and injured a Hay River resident also destroyed a mail shipment headed for the NWT.

A northbound transport truck and a southbound car collided head-on at about 12:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, three km south of Paddle Prairie on Highway 35, about 380 km south of Hay River.

Staff Sgt. Lewis Kuntz of the High Level RCMP said the car's driver, Hank Wanuch, 55, of Paddle Prairie, died instantly.

The driver of the truck, Ron Dumas, 43, of Hay River, suffered burns and other injuries. Dumas' injuries are not life-threatening, Kuntz says.

The truck, which also carried groceries, burst into flames, possibly because of a ruptured fuel tank.

The highway was closed for about eight hours as a result of the accident.

According to Canada Post, the mail was destined for Hay River, and from there some would have been shipped to Fort Smith, Fort Resolution, Rae-Edzo and Fort Providence.

The truck is owned by Northwest Transport Ltd., which is contracted to bring the mail north from Edmonton.

Insurance as proof

John Caines, the manager of national media relations with Canada Post in Ottawa, said all 1,350 kg of mail was lost. "It was completely burnt."

Canada Post is advising residents of the affected communities who may have been expecting mail to contact the senders.

As for possible compensation for lost mail, Caines said, "We'd have to investigate that on an individual basis."

Proof of mail in the system, such as insurance, would be required, he said.

"I may have a dress I ordered for my daughter's wedding burned up, but I don't know," said Eileen Collins of Hay River. Collins, president of the Hay River Seniors' Society, said she has not yet heard any concerns from members about Canada Pension Plan cheques.

She noted that many seniors have such cheques automatically deposited into their bank accounts.

In Fort Smith, Wes Steed and his wife are expecting some baby clothes they ordered from the South.

"We haven't see it yet," Wes Steed says.