Chris Hunsley
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Aug 08/05) - A drive down the Dempster near Tsiigehtchic and Fort McPherson turned into risky business after three straight days of rain last week.

The gravel highway turned to a muddy mess Sunday that led to two accidents and three adults being taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries after the Toyota pick-up truck they were riding in slid off the road around 7 p.m.

Five passengers were in the vehicle.

The highway was closed for approximately one hour while police and a ambulance responded.

"That's probably the worst I've seen it," said Const. Jason Muzzerall of the Fort McPherson RCMP.

That wasn't the only accident. A half-ton truck drove off the road between the Peel River Ferry and Midway Lakes where the annual music festival was taking place the same day.

No injuries were reported when the police were notified of the accident.

"It looked pretty bad, the truck had rolled down the hill, those roads were so bad," said Ellen Heimann.

The German tourist witnessed the wreckage, and said it was extremely difficult for drivers to maintain any control over their vehicles.

The Department of Transportation estimates it will take one week to fix the water-logged roadway.

"When there's a slight rain there's no problem, but when it rains like that there's a problem," said Gurdev Jagpal, regional superintendent for the Department of Transportation.