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A group of youth survey the scene in Repulse Bay after a water truck smashed into a house when its driver fell unconscious behind the wheel earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Ipiksaut Friesen

REPULSE BAY - A tragedy was narrowly averted in Repulse Bay earlier this month when a hamlet vehicle crashed into a local residence.

The 2006 Stirling water truck's 3,000-gallon water tank was fully loaded when its driver lost consciousness.

When the truck veered towards the residence, the driver's helper jumped clear from the passenger side.

Seconds later, the truck smashed into the building.

No one was inside at the time of the accident, and the driver was the only person requiring medical attention.

He was medevaced to Winnipeg where he was treated and released.

Community and Government Services assistant deputy minister Shawn Maley said all that was known at press time was the driver was incapacitated and suffered some form of blackout at the time of the accident.

He said his department is still waiting to receive a medical report.

"We haven't received an official diagnosis yet, but we were informed that neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in the episode," said Maley.

"There was a lot of damage done to both the house and vehicle, with the truck carrying a full load of water at the time, but, thankfully, there were no serious injuries."

Maley said there is no medical examination required for a person hired as a municipal driver, as long as they have a proper licence to operate the vehicle.

"The municipality is only required to ensure the person has a valid, proper licence to operate the type of vehicle they're being hired for.

"The municipality would also, of course, ensure any conditions or restrictions placed on an individual's licence were adhered to.

"But, in answer to your question, the hamlet has no obligation in addition to that, and does not conduct medical examinations."

The hamlet's two other water trucks - a 1996 and a 2001 - were down for repair at the time of the accident, leaving Repulse without water services.

Maley said the '96 model was pretty much relegated to the scrap yard, while the 2001 secondary vehicle had a turbo gone on it.

"We sent in two mechanics to assess the damage on the Stirling and to help get the other two operational," he said.

"It would be impossible for us to get a new vehicle into Repulse with the current sealift schedule if the Stirling can't be salvaged, but we could get a chassis in.

"If we can't salvage the actual vehicle, but we can remove the tank, hookups, etc., and get a chassis in, that would work."