Family waits for answers to explain New Year’s Day death in Iqaluit

Joe Aipellee, far right, with some friends in Clyde River. Aipellee died on New Year’s Day in Iqaluit after he was run over by a taxi cab in the early morning. His family is still wondering what happened to him. (PHOTO BY NIORE IQALUKJUAK)

The family of the man who was killed after he was struck by a taxi early New Year’s Day is still waiting for answers that might explain the young man’s sudden death.

Joe Aipellee, 20, had been lying on a stretch of Queen Elizabeth Rd. in Iqaluit early Jan. 1 when he was hit and killed by a passing taxi.

RCMP have said no foul play was suspected and the driver of the taxi was not at fault. But police are still waiting on the results of an autopsy to shed light on the condition of the young man before he died.

Aipellee was from Clyde River, but a family member said he arrived in Iqaluit on Dec. 31 for medical treatment after he overdosed on prescription medication at home.

But the victim’s older brother, Silas Aipellee, said he doesn’t know how his brother ended up in the middle of the road early Jan. 1.

“I wish I knew why he was lying down,” he said. “I wish I knew the answers.”

Silas described his brother Joe as an athlete, who loved basketball and even played in a territorial championship. He was also an avid rapper, and wrote some of his own hip hop songs.

Family and friends held a funeral for Joe Aipelle Jan. 11 in his hometown of Clyde River.

“I’ll miss him forever,” said his brother Silas.

The cause of Aipellee’s death may not be made public, however; when contacted by Nunatsiaq News earlier this month, Nunavut’s chief coroner, Padma Suramala, said the family has requested that any other information be kept private.