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No criminal charges in teenager's death
RCMP investigation rules incident as an accident

Danielle Sachs
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

INUVIK
More details were released Monday surrounding the death of Paulousie Ittungna.

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Paulousie Ittungna shows off the NWT flags he collected during the 2012 Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse this past March. RCMP said Monday that Ittungna's death was accidental. - Darren Horn photo

Police said there won't be any criminal charges in the teenager's death. It has been ruled an accident.

The teen was lying in the middle of the road when a vehicle rolled over him, stated Cathy Menard, chief coroner of the NWT, in her coroner's report, released Monday.

Police confirmed that a driver contacted RCMP the same day Ittungna was found, saying he had run someone over but had already called an ambulance.

The information was not initially released because they were waiting for the results of the autopsy, said Staff Sgt. Jerry McKenna.

The 18-year-old was found lying on Gwich'in Road during the morning of Oct. 28. A cab driver called in the incident and the RCMP responded.

In the following days, there was an outpouring of grief from the community. While official identification wasn't confirmed until Oct. 31, the school had counsellors available and sharing circles were organized.

The promising athlete's locker was adorned with notes in the days following his death. Fundraisers were quickly arranged to help with funeral and travel expenses for Ittungna's family.

The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon at East 3.

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