Men accuse each other as driver in fatal crash
Police still investigating accident three months after mother of three killed in rollover
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Monday, June 6, 2016
TSIIGEHTCHIC
The two survivors of a fatal crash on the Dempster Highway earlier this year are both pointing the finger of blame at each other for the accident that killed a mother of three, according to a police warrant obtained by News/North.
Robyn Lennie of Tsiigehtchic was only other occupant of the vehicle which left the road at a high rate of speed and rolled several times before coming to rest 10 km outside of town March 11.
All three occupants were ejected from the pick-up truck but only the two men in the vehicle survived. The warrant, which police used to search the vehicle, states that when Const. Joshua Mackenzie arrived at the scene of the crash he saw "Lennie's body was lying at the bottom of the ditch" beside the truck.
She was "covered by blankets and appeared to be lying on a foam mattress," the warrant stated. According to the warrant, Mackenzie observed empty beer cans and an empty beer box that suggested alcohol was present inside the truck at the time of the accident.
Both men were interviewed by police, each identifying the other as the driver. Neither was seriously injured although one had a gash to his leg.
One man told RCMP he was lying in the back seat of the truck.
The other man said he was in the back seat but sitting upright. The vehicle is registered to someone other than the three occupants. RCMP spokesperson Elenore Sturko stated in an e-mail that police could not comment as the investigation is ongoing. No charges have been laid.
The warrant states witnesses saw the vehicle driving at a speed of more than 120km/h as it headed southbound on the Dempster Highway toward Tsiigehtchic. Police were told the truck was swerving and passing other vehicles.
A GoFundMe online campaign started in Lennie's name to raise money in support of her three children has so far raised $7,322.
"We are asking for any help to support then and their family who will be taking care of them for daycare and such," the website states.
