Slate Falls First Nation and the north in mourning over the tragic loss of life on new road
Tragedy Hits Slate Falls First Nation
17 June 2013 By James Murray
THUNDER BAY - Tragedy has hit Slate Falls First Nation. Members of the community have died in a car accident. The accident happened on Saturday. The passengers have been identified as Kimberly Whiskeyjack, 23, of Sioux Lookout, John Bighead, 23, Samantha Loon, 26, Claudia Loon, 20, and Gordon Carpenter, 55, all from Slate Falls First Nation.
The Ontario Provincial Police state that the Sport Utility Vehicle crashed into a river. The group of travellers were, according to the OPP, headed to Slate Falls from Sioux Lookout. Their vehicle reportedly left Slate Falls Road and crashed into the Brokenmouth River.
Five victims in tragedy
The accident happened about 15 kilometres south of Slate Falls.
Police were notified of the accident about 7 p.m. on Saturday.
On Sunday, the OPP recovered the vehicle from the river, and located the five victims of the car accident inside the vehicle.
Slate Falls First Nation community is located approximately 122 kilometers north of Sioux Lookout and is accessible by float plane(summer), ski plane(winter) and wheeled aircraft as there is an airstrip. Slate Falls is also accessible by one all weather road.