Behchokǫ̀ woman dies in car crash outside community, others taken to hospital

Hay River RCMP were called to reports of a gun being discharged at the neighbouring First Nation. (File photo/CKLB.)

RCMP says one woman has died, two people are in hospital and two others left the scene after a car rolled over on Highway 3 yesterday about 5 p.m.

The crash happened near Mosquito Creek, about 15 kilometres south of Behchokǫ̀.

In a news release, RCMP says officers “located a vehicle on its roof, about 150 feet off the roadway.”

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, while the two people taken to hospital had non-life threatening injuries.

Police say they are still looking for two other people that left the scene.

“Through the investigation, Behchokǫ̀ RCMP took witnesses’ statements, and confirmed that the vehicle was occupied by five people,” wrote RCMP spokesperson Julie Plourde in an email. “Only one occupant was found deceased. Behchokǫ̀ RCMP are trying to locate the two missing occupants, who left the site before RCMP arrived on scene. As the investigation is ongoing, we won’t be releasing more information at this time, including where all the occupants are from.”

According the Department of Infrastructure’s Twitter, only a single lane of traffic was open from around 10:45 p.m. to about 1 a.m. when the highway fully re-opened.

Police say they believe alcohol and/or drugs were a factor in the crash.

They add the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information can contact Behchokǫ̀ RCMP at 392-1111 or through Crime Stoppers.

About the Author

Francis Tessier-Burns
Francis was a reporter with CKLB from January 2019 to March 2023. In his time with CKLB, he had the immense pleasure and honour of learning about northern Indigenous cultures.