Woman dies in Kugluktuk snowmobile race
Driver lost control during a race at the Nattiq Frolics, police say
A young woman died at the Kugluktuk Health Centre after she lost control of her snowmobile during a race at the Nattiq Frolics in Kugluktuk on April 18. (File photo by Jane George)
A woman who was racing a snowmobile at Kugluktuk’s Nattiq Frolics festival died on Sunday from injuries she suffered in an accident, Nunavut RCMP say.
The driver lost control of the snowmobile during the race, the RCMP said in a news release Monday.
“Race officials ran to the racer and immediately called for the ambulance,” the release states. Police arrived on the scene around 7:45 p.m. and the woman later died at the health centre.
“Our thoughts are with the family and the community during this very difficult time,” the RCMP stated in the release.
Police did not identify the woman or indicate her age.
Community members offered their condolences and posted messages of support for the family on Facebook following the accident.
Premier Joe Savikataaq expressed his condolences Monday at the legislative assembly before giving an update on the COVID-19 outbreak in Iqaluit.
“Kugluktuk, our thoughts and prayers are with you for the hard times that the community is going through right now,” Savikataaq said.
My sincere condolences go out to the family and residents of Kugluktuk. Likewise I wish communities would stop hosting these high speed races during Spring Games. They are in no way equipped to run these types of races and the drivers are totally unequipped to participate in these types of races other than their ability to lean on the throttle.. There have been several tragedies just like this over the last 10 years and that should tell people something.
Totally agree. These high speed races should be banned as they may not have any insurance and most drivers are ill equiped to compete at high speeds.
Can you list all the tragedies from racing you speak of over the past 10 years.
Kids are gonna race and drive fast anyway, organized or not.
sincere condolence to the family and community. hope they wont be much of this kind of events happen unless they have the right equipment or unless theyre well experience with that kind of racing.
So sad. Nunavik is the same with these high spend races. Death like this is so preventable. We had our share, and it continues. We’ll have more to! Few things: no insurance, no experience. It’s a death trap of a situation. Hit the throttle and big unawareness to it all. Condolences to the family. Lobby to have it stopped in the name of dying young.
Condolences to family in Kugluktuk. Racing should be banned in all Nunavut communities. Hope all organizers read this article and get their second thoughts.
Saying not equipped, skilled,etc. You weren’t there. The organization put in guidelines that event participants must follow. She was well equipped (even had more then minimum requirements) and had a great passion for the sport. The family holds no grudge against the event or organization, as she went doing what she loved and looked forward to all year. Even the ones who do not participate, they are still a great prt of the event. They cheer on their favourite participants and family members. It is just that some things you cannot put enough safety into. Far more vehicle collision fatalities then snowmobile related accidents. Should we take all vehicles off the road too since seatbelts and airbags do not stop all accidents?
To everyone saying “cancel” it… snowmobile races happen around the world, and tragedies do occur. It is a very small percentage of racers, but it is one of the realities of racing any type of machine. Condolences to the family, but don’t let this be a reason to take away snowmachine racing from Nunavut.