Two Yukoners are dead and three other people are injured following a two-vehicle crash on the Alaska Highway north of Teslin, according to Yukon authorities.
The Yukon RCMP and the Yukon Coroner's Service issued a press release on the afternoon of June 20 with additional details about the fatal collision on June 19.
At 1:30 p.m. on June 19, Teslin RCMP went to a report of a "serious" collision between a SUV and a truck with a fifth-wheel trailer on the Alaska Highway near Squanga Lake, as noted in the release.
Per the release, two adult female occupants from the Yukon were ejected from the SUV and found to be dead. Another adult from the SUV was injured. The injured adult from the SUV and two American citizens from the truck were taken to the Whitehorse General Hospital by emergency medical services.
The coroner's service determined the identities of the Yukoners who died. They are identified in the release as 43-year-old Martina Marie Sidney (Baker) and 44-year-old Berdina Dorothy Hager. The coroner's service understands both women lived in Teslin.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that speed may have been a factor in this tragic incident," reads the joint release from the police and the coroner's service.
"Condolences are offered to the families and friends of Martina and Berdina and the community of Teslin."
The investigation into the circumstances that led to these deaths is ongoing, the joint release notes.
The highway was previously closed in both directions on June 19. It opened to one lane at around 10 p.m. that evening and fully reopened on the morning of June 20.
A notice from police issued shortly after 3:30 p.m. on June 19 puts the location of the incident 70 kilometres north of Teslin.
Yukon 511 put the site of the collision between Alaska Highway kilometre markers 1308 and 1314. Police initially reported a significant traffic backup in the area.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com