Old Crow residents cope with snowmobile tragedy

A 24-year-old man who was killed in a snowmobile accident Monday is being remembered as a popular member of his community in Old Crow.

“He was very well-liked, especially by the young people,“ Joe Linklater, chief of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, told the Star this morning.

Stephen Charlie was found dead at the scene of the accident after the RCMP Old Crow detachment was notified at approximately 9:40 p.m. Monday.

On attending the scene with the on-duty nurse, it was determined that the lone rider of the snowmobile lost control, struck a snow bank, then collided with a telephone pole, the RCMP said Tuesday.

Alcohol and speed may have been factors in the crash, police said.

“Everybody is sad, especially considering his age,“ said Linklater. “It’s very devastating, given the way the accident occurred.“

Linklater said the funeral will take place Friday or Saturday.

“There’s still a lot of closure that needs to take place. It’s devastated everybody, but we need to work together as a team.“

Linklater said Charlie was “always a very happy, pleasant person. (He was) one of those guys who, when you met him on the street, his smile would just light up.

“He’s really, really going to be missed.“

Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Darius Elias said today his community is responding “with a tremendous amount of grief. The community is in shock.

“As always when tragedies like this happen, my community comes together and gives each other strength,“ said Elias.

“We bring food and we pray together. Our traditional leaders are on the phone while we gather here in Whitehorse right now; we’re getting prepared to honour Stephen.“

Elias remembered Charlie as a firefighter and trapper who was “extremely well-versed on the land.

“He was taught by his grandmother. He was raised out on the land.“

Elias said this is the ninth death in Old Crow in the last 18 months.

“The grieving is overwhelming.“

Linklater concurred that the last year and a half has been “taxing on the community.

“The last two deaths were very sudden and were young people. It’s something we have to deal with.“

Police are reminding operators of snowmobiles and ATVs not to drink and drive and to wear helmets at all times.

Old Crow is about 1,000 kilometres north of Whitehorse.