Truck in deadly Dempster crash in March seen swerving, speeding

A vehicle involved in a deadly crash on the Dempster Highway in March was seen swerving and speeding before it flipped, according to the RCMP's warrant to search the mangled pickup truck.

The single-vehicle crash happened about 10 kilometres north of the Tsiigehtchic ferry crossing. RobynLennieofTsiigehtchic, a young mother of three, died in the crash, while two other occupants walked away with minor injuries. They had spent the afternoon in Inuvik and were headed to the community.

The warrant, dated April 29, 2016, indicates thatwitnesses saw the 2000 Chevy Silverado passing other vehicles on the highway and swerving repeatedly.

People who first arrived on the scene of the accident found the truck on its side. Several witnesses said they smelled alcohol and saw beer cans in the truck and the nearby snowbank. It was noted in the warrant that police officers had also observed empty beer cans and an empty beer box at the scene.

The document says first responders found Lennie pinned underneath the vehicle. She died at the scene.

Who was driving?

Jason Blake-McLeod, 38, crawled out of the truck after the crash. Witnesses found Jeremy Cardinal, 32, in the snow.

Blake-McLeod told police the vehiclebelonged to his cousin, but said he was too tired to drive, so Cardinal was at the wheel while he sat in the backseat. Blake-McLeod was hospitalized for shock after the accident.

Cardinal, who suffered a large gash on his leg, said Blake-McLeod was driving.

Both men told police they had been drinking.

According to the warrant, witnesses said Cardinal was behind the wheel.

The warrant took note of poorroad conditions that day, pointing to several bumps on the highway.

RCMP told the courts the search of the vehicle was necessary to gather liquor containers still in the truck and to analyze the vehicle's black box, which indicates the speed it was travelling and whether passengers were wearing seatbelts.

Police said the search would help determine ifcharges would be laid.