A 22-year-old woman is dead and another woman faces charges related to both impaired driving and fleeing a scene after a hit-and-run incident on May 29.
In a release, Manitoba First Nations Police said they had gotten multiple reports of a vehicle being driven at high speeds and performing dangerous stunts on Birdtail Sioux First Nation. At about 11:11 p.m., while officers were actively searching the area for the suspect vehicle, they were told the car had struck a pedestrian and seriously injured her before leaving the scene.
According to police, when they arrived at the scene they found an injured woman lying in the roadway. Despite their best efforts to save her, 22-year-old Jodi Tianna Bunn was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police found the vehicle, which they said was extensively damaged, a short time later at a residence in the community. At that time, though the vehicle was seized for forensic examination, they did not make an arrest.
The next day, May 30, police allege they identified the driver with assistance from the MFNPS Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU) and the Crime Reduction and Enforcement Unit (CREU).
Precious Jewel Saulteaux has been charged with Operation While Impaired Causing Death, Operation While Impaired Causing Bodily Harm, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Death, Dangerous Operation of a Motor Vehicle Causing Bodily Harm, Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident Causing Death, and Failure to Stop at the Scene of an Accident Causing Bodily Harm. None of the charges against her have been proven in court and she is presumed innocent.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is asked to contact the MFNPS Birdtail Sioux First Nation Detachment at 204‑569‑4621, or the MFNPS TIPS Line anonymously at 1‑833‑978‑0048 or TIPS@mfnp.ca.
