HAY RIVER - A woman was hit and killed by a vehicle on the Mackenzie Highway in Hay River in the early morning hours of Oct. 31.

The victim, a 31-year-old from the Hay River Dene Reserve, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The woman's name was being withheld by Hay River RCMP as of Sunday pending further investigation.

According to an RCMP news release, the woman was struck by a single vehicle travelling southbound at approximately 5:20 a.m.

The accident occurred about two km south of downtown Hay River.

The speed limit along that section of highway is 90 km/h. K'atlodeeche First Nation Chief Roy Fabian said the Hay River Reserve is in shock over the woman's death. He declined to identify her.

Speaking late Saturday evening, RCMP Const. Justin Sharpe said the investigation is seeking to determine why the woman was on the highway.

"We don't know why she was on the road in the first place," he said.

The driver of the truck involved in the accident stopped at the scene and called police.

Sharpe said no charges are expected to be laid.

"We don't believe there is any criminal nature in all of this," he said.

Neither alcohol nor the weather is believed to have been a factor in the accident, according to police.