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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The NWT Coroner's Office released the names Monday of the two drivers killed in last week's trucking accident near Fort Providence.

Two men died in this Feb. 19 transport truck accident on Highway 3. The NWT Coroner's Office identified the men as Grant Lawrence Ambler, 60, of Gwynne, Alta., who was driving the Ventures West Transport Ltd. Super-B train heading south, and Leroy Alfred Conner, 66, of Oklahoma, who was in the sleeper of the Dyno Nobel truck. - photo courtesy of Alden Vogt

According to a press release issued by Chief Coroner Cathy Menard, Grant Lawrence Ambler, 60, of Gwynne, Alta., was killed while driving a Ventures West Transport Ltd. Super-B train heading south from a Snap Lake fuel haul. Coming in the other direction, Leroy Alfred Conner, 66, of Oklahoma, was in the sleeper of the Dyno Nobel semi-trailer truck carrying explosives, who also died in the Feb. 19 accident.

The RCMP is saying very little as the investigation into the accident is still ongoing. However, Cpl. Barry Ledoux said this week that all the people in the area at the time of the accident are being interviewed. Police are uncertain about the cause of the accident or the condition or exact location of the survivor, who was driving the Dyno Nobel truck.

Damien Healy, manager of communications with the Department of Health and Social Services, said the patient has been transported to an Edmonton-area hospital but could not provide the name of the patient nor the location or his condition.

Range Lake MLA Daryl Dolynny called for an inquiry Monday into roadside emergency services after saying he had heard an air ambulance helicopter was told to stand down and not fly to the scene.

He said MLAs received confidential briefings on the incident but isn't at liberty to discuss the details. However, based on what he has heard from different sources, including from passersby and others non-government and non-industry sources on the ground, he is seriously concerned about how the survivor was treated and transported to hospital.

According to Dolynny, the victim was transported from the crash site to Fort Providence - 84 km from the accident scene - in "a health centre van" - before being medevaced to Yellowknife.

He said it remains unclear whether the van was equipped with medical equipment or whether it was just a passenger van.

Dolynny said there are broader questions that need to be asked as to how accident victims are treated and transported in remote areas along the GNWT highway system.

"I tried to use (the accident) as a segue into asking overall questions with where are we with our ambulance, and more importantly how do we deal with highway safety," said Dolynny.

"If you see the responses it is painfully obvious that we have to find ways and budgetary ways to improve to our highway recovery program and our highway road safety program. There is no doubt in my mind."

Health and Social Services Minister Tom Beaulieu wouldn't commit to a public inquiry.

"I think we could check it out to keep it simple to determine whether or not it's our responsibility to go onto the highways through the medical travel policy ... and get people through that service or if we're using the system where we are trying to enhance certain ground ambulance services and key strategic communities throughout the North," said Beaulieu during oral questioning.

During questioning, Municipal and Community Affairs Minster Robert C. McLeod told Dolynny that among the 33 communities in the NWT, 16 have updated emergency plans, with 15 needing updated plans and "two communities without any type of emergency plan at all."

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