Yellowknife man dies in bizarre accident near Kakisa
Survives rollover, but is then struck and killed by tractor trailer
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 3, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife man is dead after a tragic but bizarre accident on Highway 1, Wednesday morning near Kakisa.
NWT chief coroner Cathy Menard said the 39-year-old man survived after rolling his one-tonne pickup truck, only to emerge onto the highway where he was struck and killed by a semi tractor-trailer.
The man still hasn't been officially identified and that's why Menard said she can't release his name.
"We believe we know who it was," she said.
In a news release, RCMP stated that it will not be releasing the victim's name out of respect for the family.
The fatal accident happened at about 5 a.m. while it was still dark, said Menard, adding the driver of the tractor-trailer didn't see the man until it was too late.
Her office is still trying to determine exactly what time the victim rolled his truck and why he may have been standing on the roadway. When police arrived, the pickup truck was facing south while the tractor trailer was facing north.
Menard did confirm that a dog was with the deceased, which was also on the road when the man was struck.
"The dog survived with minor cuts from the rollover," she said.
The accident shut down the highway until about 4 p.m. Wednesday.
An autopsy will be done in Edmonton and an investigation is ongoing, said Menard. Charges are not pending against the driver of the tractor trailer.
The tractor trailer driver was working at the time of the crash and because of that, the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission is also investigating, said Menard.
