Snowmobile accident kills Nunavut man

A Taloyoak man died following a June 10 snowmobile accident on the sea ice outside the Kitikmeot community. (PHOTO COURTESY OF QINIQ.COM)

A Taloyoak man is dead after he was involved in a snowmobile accident earlier this week outside of Taloyoak, a Kitikmeot community of about 700 people.

In the early morning hours of June 10, members of RCMP detachment in Taloyoak responded to a snowmobile accident on the sea ice, about five kilometres from the community.

A male child passenger was unharmed in the accident, but the man driving the machine was seriously injured.

The man later died from his injuries, the RCMP said in a June 12 news release.

Police said weather conditions were a factor in the accident.

In the legislative assembly June 10, Netsilik MLA Jeannie Ugyuk expressed her condolences to the family of the victim, one of whom was sitting in the legislature that day.

“I rise today in remembrance of our fellow people of Nunavut,” Ugyuk said, sending thoughts to her relatives in Taloyoak.

Police say the name of the dead man is not being released “out of respect of the family.”