INUVIK
One person is dead and five others injured in a single-vehicle collision that occurred at about 3 a.m. July 6 on Navy Road.

A Dodge Ram 1500 carrying seven people rolled over at about 3 a.m. July 6 on Navy Road, killing Sasha Larocque-Firth and causing injuries to the other occupants. Terry Ricky Don Kayotuk is facing multiple charges as a result of the incident. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

Passenger Sasha Larocque-Firth, 24, of Inuvik was pronounced dead at the Inuvik Regional Hospital after a Dodge Ram 1500 crew cab rolled off the road, coming to rest on its roof on top of telephone lines and a telephone pole felled by the impact.

There were seven people in the vehicle when it rolled.

The truck had been speeding and contained relatives of newlyweds and other people who had attended a wedding on the afternoon of July 5, according to several sources.

The vehicle was heading out of town toward the new Inuvik-to-Tuk highway, said Inuvik Fire Chief Jim Sawkins, who was first on the scene from the fire department.

"The truck was smoking still from the undercarriage but it basically snuffed itself out," said Sawkins, who added the fire department received a call at 3:07 a.m. and were on scene by 3:10 a.m.

"The truck was upside down on the edge of the road in the ditch and hung up on the telephone wires. One hydro pole had been taken out. I have been to a lot of accidents and it was extensive."

RCMP have laid 13 charges against 33-year-old Terry Ricky Don Kayotuk of Inuvik, including criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing death, operation of a motor vehicle with more than 80 mg of alcohol in his blood causing death, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, two charges of operation of a motor vehicle with more than 80 mg of alcohol in his blood causing bodily harm, two charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm, two charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm, operating a vehicle while impaired and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

Five passengers were taken to hospital in Inuvik with non-life threatening injuries, according to police.

One woman was transported by medevac to the University of Alberta hospital in Edmonton.

RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Barry Ledoux said he could not confirm the names of the passengers or the name of the deceased.

Kayotuk was dressed in a crisp blue T-shirt and was clean shaven as he sat in the prisoner's dock during a brief appearance in territorial court in Yellowknife July 9.

He appeared alert and at one point mouthed "I love you" to an unidentified woman in the courtroom.

She appeared to be the only person there to support him.

Kayotuk was remanded into custody until his next court appearance July 15. He was represented by defence lawyer Peter Fuglsang of Yellowknife. Fuglsang said he has not been retained by Kayotuk.

The only conditions asked for by Crown prosecutor Alex Godfrey were that Kayotuk have no contact with five people – three men and two women. It was not made clear why that request was made.

Chief Judge Robert Gorin granted the no-contact request.

– with files from John McFadden