Behchoko man charged after car forced off road
57-year-old accused of assault, dangerous driving, uttering threats and leaving crash scene
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, August 1, 2016
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
A 57-year-old Behchoko man faces multiple charges after police say a vehicle on Highway 3 was followed and intentionally hit by a second vehicle last week, sending two people for medical treatment.
Samuel Simpson has been charged with assault with a weapon, assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failure to remain at the scene of an accident and uttering threats.
According to a news release from police issued last week, Behchoko RCMP were called around 7 a.m. on July 25 to a report that a vehicle had intentionally struck another vehicle.
"One party had stopped to assist a female in distress and was followed and intentionally struck by a second vehicle, forcing them from the road where their vehicle rolled," RCMP stated.
The person driving the second vehicle then drove away, police allege.
The two in the vehicle that rolled over were taken to the community health centre. The driver was treated for his injuries and released.
The extent of the injuries to both has not been disclosed by RCMP.
The woman was taken to Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife for further assessment and treatment, police stated.
According to police, the female victim was released from hospital as of July 26.
The person who stopped to provide assistance was described as a "local individual who was known to the victim."
It wasn't what connection there was between Simpson and the victims, if any, or what may have led to the allegedly intentional crash.
Shortly after the crash, the suspect was found and arrested without incident, according to police.
Simpson was held in custody after being arrested.
He appeared in a Yellowknife courtroom for a few minutes July 27 where Jeremy Walsh, a defense lawyer, requested the case be adjourned until the next day.
He also notified the court that Simpson had requested a Tlicho translator for subsequent appearances.
A order barring Simpson from contacting in any way a male and female was requested by the Crown and granted by Judge Garth Malakoe.
The case was pushed to the afternoon of July 29 for a bail hearing. The outcome was not known at press time that day.
Anyone with further information about the incident is asked to call Behchoko RCMP at 867-392-1111 or to contact Crime Stoppers.
