WINNIPEG - A young Sanikiluaq woman who was fatally hit by a truck in Winnipeg last week is described by her family as being an "outgoing" person who was always very close to her family.

Louisa Sala, 20, died in a Winnipeg hospital last Wednesday after being hit by a Chevrolet pick-up truck on a busy downtown street.

According to Const. Natalie Aitken, a public information officer with the Winnipeg police, police and emergency services arrived at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to Portage Avenue at Strathcona Street, responding to a report of a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian.

Portage Avenue, a major street in a downtown commercial area of the city, was closed to traffic while the police investigated the scene.

Aitken said Sala had been hit by an eastbound pick-up truck while walking on the road.

"We're not sure (if) she was actually crossing the road, but she was walking in the roadway," said Aitken.

Sala was rushed to the hospital in an "unstable condition" with injuries to both her upper and lower body. By the end of the day she had succumbed to her injuries and Sala died in the hospital.

The speed limit on that street is 60 km/h and there are multiple lanes of traffic, though the exact number of lanes was not made available to Nunavut News/North by press time.

"It's probably one of our busiest streets," said Aitken.

Sala was in Winnipeg with her father when the incident occurred.

Sala's aunt, Mary Qittosuk, said she "was different from her other family."

"She was outgoing and always keeping herself busy."

Another aunt, Lucy Sala, echoed the statement that Louisa was "outgoing."

"She was always close to family," said Lucy.

Lucy said Louisa did a lot of activities and worked many jobs, including working as a recreation supervisor in Sanikiluaq during the evening hours when kids played sports in the facilities.

Louisa's body was expected to arrive in the community either Friday or today, and Lucy said the family is trying to keep busy rather than just wait around. Her younger brother Joe was out on a hunting trip with his uncle when Nunavut News/North spoke with Lucy on Thursday.

"It was hard at first when we heard, but everybody is doing OK," said Lucy.

There has been a lot of community support for the family of Louisa, according to Lucy, and there are a lot of family members are on their way to the community by boat and plane to be together.

The driver of the truck has not yet been charged and the investigation is still ongoing. Aitken said "he was still on scene" when the police arrived. The police are seeking more witnesses to learn more of what transpired.

This is the second death of a Nunavut pedestrian on a busy southern road within the last month. Rosalie Ugjuk, 43, died after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 417 on July 21 in Ottawa. She was originally from Iglulik but had been living in Ottawa for about 10 years.

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