An unidentified man was killed in an accident on the North Klondike Highway Thursday, forcing the highway to close for 14 hours south of Pelly Crossing.
The man was travelling in a van with five other men at around 9:40 p.m. when the driver lost control.
The victim was thrown from the vehicle and sustained serious trauma to his entire body, said an RCMP news release. He was pronounced dead less than an hour later.
He was the only passenger without a seat belt. No one else was seriously injured.
Police closed the highway until a traffic analyst could visit the scene and examine the conditions leading to the crash.
Alcohol and speed are believed to be a factor, said the release.
The driver is under investigation.
Man dies in drunk driving crash
A 40-year-old man was left dead in a vehicle after the driver and another passenger fled the scene Friday.
The trio were driving on Chadburn Lake Road around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon when the vehicle rolled over.
Paramedics found the man unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing. They could not revive him.
Witnesses told police two men had fled the crash scene. A police dog was used and, within minutes, the suspects were found hiding in the forest 46 meters away. Witnesses identified one of the men as the driver, leading to a drunk driving charge.
William Gilbert Johnson, 46, has been charged with impaired driving causing death. He is to appear in court today.
The victim’s identity is not being released.
Contact James Munson at jamesm@yukon-news.com