INUVIK
A drunk driver whose pick-up truck rolled over and crashed into a utility pole, killing one passenger and injuring three others, has pleaded guilty to five of 13 charges he faced.

Twenty-four-year-old Sasha Laroque-Firth was pronounced dead at Inuvik Regional Hospital after the Dodge Ram 1500 she was seated in rolled over on Navy Road, crumpling a telephone pole and cables beneath it at around 3 a.m. on July 6, 2014.

Terry Kayotuk pleaded guilty to five charges April 11, including operating a motor vehicle while impaired and causing death, three counts of driving while impaired and causing bodily harm and one count of dangerous driving.

Seven people were in the truck at the time.

Three of the passengers - all female - were injured in the crash.

The driver, Kayotuk - who was 33 years old at the time - was initially charged with 13 offences by RCMP officers who responded to the scene.

Inuvik Fire Chief Jim Sawkins - who was the first fire department member on scene - told Inuvik Drum at the time that the truck was headed toward the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway when the accident occurred and it was still smoking from the undercarriage when he arrived.

"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," he said.

"I have been to a lot of accidents and it was extensive."

Crown prosecutor Alex Godfrey said Kayotuk's sentencing will take place in Inuvik sometime in the next few months.

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