Whitehorse Daily Star

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A YOUNG LIFE LOST – Left: Elizabeth Boyd is seen at a firefighters’ Wildfire Bootcamp in May. Right: Boyd holds the Outstanding Youth Achievement Award from then-commissioner Doug Phillips in August 2017. The young woman died Wednesday in a highway rollover accident.

Rollover takes life of award-winning firefighter

A vehicle rollover on the Alaska Highway near Haines Junction on Wednesday morning claimed the life of a 19-year-old Commissioner’s Award winner and volunteer firefighter.

By Whitehorse Star on June 15, 2018

A vehicle rollover on the Alaska Highway near Haines Junction on Wednesday morning claimed the life of a 19-year-old Commissioner’s Award winner and volunteer firefighter.

Dead is Elizabeth Caroline Boyd of Whitehorse, the Yukon Coroner’s Service confirmed Thursday afternoon.

The cause of the fatal accident has been determined to be distracted driving involving a cellphone.

Boyd was driving an ambulance belonging to the Department of Highways and Public Works.

It had been parked at the Cracker Creek construction worksite. The vehicle was taken without authorization just before 6:30 a.m., before workers arrived at the site.

Boyd, the sole occupant, had been driving the ambulance east, toward the construction site and Whitehorse.

She eventually lost control of the vehicle. The ambulance crossed to the westbound lane and rolled into the ditch.

The young woman suffered fatal injuries as a result.

The rollover occurred at km 1566 of the Alaska Highway, about 14 kilometres east of Haines Junction.

After investigating, the coroner’s office concluded the accident was caused by distracted driving. Boyd had been using her cellphone at the time of the rollover, the investigation found.

There will be a full toxicology analysis conducted by the coroner’s office.

The analysis will be done through the Provincial Toxicology Centre in Vancouver.

In August 2017, Boyd received an Outstanding Youth Achievement Award from then-commissioner Doug Phillips.

She was honoured for “exceptional devotion as a volunteer firefighter with the Mount Lorne Volunteer Fire Department,” her citation said.

“She was also heavily involved with the local 4-H Club and Junior Rangers program. In her last years as a Junior Ranger, she helped instruct young members of the group,” the citation noted.

Boyd joined the fire department, south of Whitehorse, at the age of 16 as an “explorer firefighter,” becoming a full-fledged member of the department at the age of 18.

“She attends practices regularly and takes part in community events,” Boyd’s citation said.

“She is always ready to step up for demonstrations and activities.”

Boyd also ably represented the territory at firefighters’ fitness competitions in British Columbia.

The fire department declined comment on Boyd’s passing.

Comments (6)

Up 0 Down 1

Jimbo on Nov 26, 2018 at 9:37 am

Drunk and texting, glad she didn't kill anyone else, no concern for others gets zero sympathy from me.

Up 9 Down 2

MJH on Jun 18, 2018 at 1:41 pm

@Community Gal the keys are left in the vehicles so that in the case of an emergency they are on hand. The honour system has been in place with those emergency vehicles on roadside worksites in Yukon for years, I've wondered myself how much it's abused in recent years. Tragic news though, many condolences to the family and the community.

Up 18 Down 3

Dave on Jun 18, 2018 at 12:51 pm

Community Gal, yes it’s obviously the vehicle owners fault that someone took their vehicle for what ever reason. It’s time to call a spade a spade here, do not take things that do not belong to you. Unfortunately in this instance the decision to do just that together with another bad decision to drive distracted while using her phone cost this seemingly terrific young woman her life.
Everyone wishes this had never happened, but do not try and shift the choices she made that morning on to something else.

Up 6 Down 15

Community Gal on Jun 18, 2018 at 8:44 am

Keys should be secured and not left in vehicles to tempt people to make poor judgment calls. I saw that ambulance parked there and thought it was very odd. My condolences to the family of this talented young woman. So much potential lost. How very sad.

Up 16 Down 4

dwayne latham on Jun 15, 2018 at 5:17 pm

Stunned, absolutely stunned .... feisty, direct, energetic and driven ... so much more to give ... strong example for youth of today to give as often as you can ... from the heart ... Elizabeth will be missed by those who knew or met her ... and sadly, also by those who didn't or won't get the opportunity ... so shocking ... I'm so glad we took even a moment to say hello each time we saw her ... a smile you'd remember ... love and condolences from the greater Yukon farming family and our own - Colleen, Marsh, Devo and Dwayne

Up 45 Down 2

So so sad on Jun 15, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Omg, I am so sorry to hear about poor Elizabeth. I had the honour of meeting this wonderful young lady through the Rangers. She really touched my heart. She was vibrant, smart, funny, capable and loving. The Yukon has lost a truly bright shining star. Condolences to her family; my heart breaks for you all. RIP Elizabeth.

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