The parents of a deceased Fort McPherson, N.W.T. man are suing the Yukon government and a heavy equipment operator over their son’s death.

The statement of claim by Julie Anne and Alan Blake Sr. was filed Feb. 6 in Yukon Supreme Court by Whitehorse lawyer James Tucker.

Anne is the administrator of the estate of her son, Alan Blake Jr.

According to the claim, Alan Jr. was driving a semi-tractor trailer at the time of his death on Feb. 11, 2018. He worked for K&D Contracting, and was northbound on the Dempster Highway.

The heavy equipment operator named in the litigation is Steven Bassett. According to the claim, he is employed by the government and is from Dawson City.

On the day of Alan Jr.’s death, Bassett was driving a grader in the southbound lane of the Dempster.

The two vehicles collided at kilometre 441 of the highway. There were no details of the collision provided in the litigation.

Tucker argues in the claim that the accident was caused by alleged negligence on both Bassett’s and the government’s part.

He alleges that Bassett was negligent on multiple fronts, including:

• failing to keep a lookout;

• failing to have proper control of the grader;

• driving recklessly and being indifferent to the possibility of causing harm;

• driving without giving reasonable consideration for other people using the road;

• failing to operate the grader with reasonable care and skill in the circumstances;

• speeding;

• failing to correct his vehicle’s course when a collision was apparent;

• driving the grader when it was in an unsafe mechanical condition, such as possible defective brakes and steering mechanism; and

• driving with no brakes or failing to apply them in time to avoid the accident.

Tucker next addressed the damages allegedly caused by the government. These include the government:

• letting Bassett drive when it knew he was unqualified to do so;

• knowing he was not adequately informed about the proper braking and manoeuvring abilities of the grader;

• knowing the grader was defective;

• not fixing the vehicle’s defects;

• not having the grader serviced or cleaned;

• not equipping the grader with headlights, windshield wipers, tires, warning devices or other items to ensure safe operation; and

• failing to instruct Bassett on the safe use of the vehicle.

“Further, YG is vicariously liable for the negligent acts of its employee, Bassett,” Tucker alleges in the claim.

He argues that due to the alleged negligence referenced above, Alan Jr.’s vehicle ended up in a collision where he died after sustaining serious injuries.

Alan Jr., who was single with no children, was living with his parents at the time.

He paid his parents $1,000 a month, money that was used for household expenses. Tucker argues that the Blakes have suffered a pecuniary loss as a result of their son’s death.

They have also suffered financial losses, such as the expenses for his funeral.

They are asking the court to make several orders, including undisclosed compensation for the pecuniary loses.

They want the expenses incurred by their son’s estate to the tune of $37,500, and are seeking costs.