YELLOWKNIFE - A young couple and their four-month-old son had their vehicle struck by a man driving a blue Dodge Nitro SUV who fled the scene Monday afternoon - only a day after the couple relocated to Yellowknife.

"We just moved back last night," said Jamie Hutton.

She was born and raised in Yellowknife and recently returned from Hay River. She held her son Asher, who cried out after the crash.

"He stopped once we got him out," said Jamie.

The car that crashed into the Huttons was located at an apartment complex in the downtown area shortly thereafter, RCMP spokesperson Roxanne Dreilich said. The driver was not present.

"It appears that the vehicle was a rental vehicle," said Dreilich. "And at this time the investigation continues into attempting to contact the person who had rented the vehicle."

The vehicle was rented from Hertz Rent A Car, added Dreilich.

Jamie's uncle, Don McSwain, was also in the Huttons' 2000 Cherokee sports utility vehicle at the time. Nobody sustained any visible injuries.

Jamie's husband, Andrew, was parking their car on 50 Street outside the Gold Range Bistro at around noon when an oncoming SUV in the opposite lane veered into their path and smashed into the left side of their vehicle.

"We were going to go to breakfast," said Andrew.

"The car looked brand new. It was one of those-funny looking ones with the big fenders."

William Hoffmann and his wife pulled in to the other side of the street just before the crash.

"I stepped out, and as I turned my head, I saw this blue jeep come up and smash straight into (the Huttons)," said Hoffmann. "The (SUV's) fender was dragging and he just took off.

"He must have been easily doing 35, 40 miles an hour. That's way too fast for an area like this."

Hoffmann said the incident was indicative of a larger problem in Yellowknife.

"Something more serious could have happened," he said. "I think something really has to be done in Yellowknife because I think the guy was drunk. And you know, if he wants to go out and drink, (do it) in the bush.

"If he did just accidentally brush against him, I would have stopped. Any normal person would have done that. But he didn't do any of that."

Another witness, David Desorcy, said he saw the driver speed away up 50 Street and turn right onto Franklin Avenue.

RCMP Const. J.T. Turcotte responded to the scene and said a witness provided the licence plate number of the Nitro

Asked how she felt to have something like this happen so quickly after her return to Yellowknife, Jamie was nearly at a loss for words.

"Move out," she said.