A woman accused of driving impaired into Yellowknife’s Explorer Hotel and hitting four people on Christmas Eve has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Police charged Natallia Salodkina, 61, late last year with four counts of assault with a weapon, the alleged weapon being a 2015 Buick Encore.
She also faces one count each of mischief exceeding $5,000, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, impaired operation, and impaired operation with a blood alcohol level higher than 80mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
Salodkina was subsequently released from custody under conditions including that she adhere to a curfew, not operate any motorized vehicle, and not enter any pub, bar, tavern, lounge or liquor store licensed to sell alcohol.
Salodkina pleaded not guilty to the charges against her in NWT Territorial Court last month.
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She is next set to appear in court to set a date on July 28.
Salodkina was charged in connection with an incident in which a vehicle crashed into the lobby of the hotel owned by Nunastar Properties Inc on December 30, 2025, shattering the front doors and damaging the elevators. RCMP said several people were temporarily trapped inside the elevator before they were rescued by firefighters.
The front doors to the hotel are still under repair.
While police alleged four pedestrians were hit, officers said no one was seriously injured in the crash.
RCMP further alleged at the time that the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle appeared intoxicated and later provided breath samples at the Yellowknife detachment that were more than three times the legal blood alcohol limit for drivers.
