Two people were killed in a vehicle accident near the intersection for Behchokǫ̀’s Rae access road on Saturday.
Ryan Chocolate, 30, and 29-year-old Charlotte Rabesca were named by the NWT’s chief coroner, Cathy Menard, as those who had passed away in the incident.
Four occupants were in the vehicle at the time.
Images taken by residents and shared with Cabin Radio show the vehicle flipped on its roof several metres from the road, next to a small lake.
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What happened to cause the incident is not yet clear.
“On Saturday, July 20, at approximately 11:35am, police were called to the scene of a crash on Highway 3, near Behchokǫ̀,” said RCMP in a statement on Monday.
“A vehicle had left the road and rolled over into a nearby pond, near the corner to enter Behchokǫ̀ on Highway #3.”
Police said the driver and front-seat passenger died at the scene.
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“Both rear passengers were able to escape safely from the vehicle,” said RCMP. “One sustained a non-life threatening injury and got transported to the hospital.”
The two rear passengers were not identified.
Police have sent teams to the scene to investigate what happened, and are working with the NWT coroner’s office.
“Our thoughts are with the family and the community of Behchokǫ̀ at this difficult time,” said RCMP.
