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A towing company lifts a truck, belonging to Yellowknife resident Kevin Doyle, out of the deep water at the Sand Pits on Sunday. The truck is beyond repair after sinking into the water and nearly taking the passengers with it. - photo courtesy of Jessi Moekerk

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife couple taking a drive on Sunday found themselves in a terrifying situation after their truck went through the ice at the Sand Pits.

Jessi Moekerk and Kevin Doyle are thankful to be alive after a stranger came to their aid as their vehicle was sinking into deep water.

"We had plans for the day and he said 'want to go check out the Sand Pits'," said Moekerk, referring to the area along Highway 3 past the airport where people often go with their 4X4 trucks to go off-road driving.

The couple were out celebrating Doyle's birthday in a 2008 Dodge Ram valued around $60,000. They took a drive to the popular spot where others were out with their dogs and snowmobiles around 2 p.m. She said they went through one of the two entrances that did not have a sign warning of deep water.

"The front end (of the truck) dropped. I remember the crust of the ice being already on top of the hood. Panic didn't really set in yet," said Moekerk.

She said it took a minute before either of them realized how deep they were actually sinking. Water, meanwhile, was seeping into the vehicle.

"It wasn't really terrifying until we couldn't get out," she said.

Moekerk and Doyle were unable to escape the vehicle through the doors or windows. Doyle attempted to kick out the window, which wouldn't break. The man, who has only lived in Yellowknife the last eight months, then called 911, not realizing such a service does not exist in the territory.

Moekerk said she knew 911 was not available, but couldn't recall the emergency number.

A stranger who was in the area came to the rescue of the trapped couple. Marc Whitford and Bill Enge were there on business for the North Slave Metis Alliance. The men were driving away when they noticed the vehicle partially submerged in the water.

Whitford said they noticed there was noise coming from the truck and there were people inside. He said he tied an extension cord around himself and Enge, along with another man who arrived on scene, were his anchors. "I just punched a few holes in the ice to see the thickness of the ice as I went along," said Whitford. "I jumped into the box of the truck and said I'm going to break the back window."

Whitford had a crow bar with him that was used to break open the window of the vehicle so the couple could get out. Dolye went out first and Whitford helped Moekerk to reach the shoreline.

"I was glad to do it. I'd do it again if I had to," said Whitford.

"We were so lucky. Someone was there who knew what to do," said Moekerk.

Rescue crews from the Yellowknife Fire Department were called and showed up on the scene with an ambulance shortly after the couple were able to escape the sinking vehicle. Another individual on the scene, Sheldon Pond, assisted the couple by keeping them warm in his car and later drove them home. The truck was towed out of the water but is beyond repair. Moekerk said there should be more signs at the Sand Pits or a fence to let people know of the danger.

"We never would've gone out there had we known," she said. "It could've been fatal."

She said she and Doyle are very grateful to the men for saving their lives and the rescue crews and the towing company for having assisted.

Deputy fire chief Darcy Hernblad said vehicles going through the water at the Sand Pits is not a frequent occurrence but it does happen.

"Over the years we've had a few vehicles go in the water there. Some in the summer as well," said Hernblad.