Five-year-old girl killed when hit in head by falling soccer goal post in Yukon

WATSON LAKE, – The RCMP and the Yukon Coroner’s’ Service are investigating the death of a five-year-old girl on a soccer field in a small town about 460 kilometres southeast of Whitehorse.

Chief Coroner Kirsten MacDonald said the girl was playing soccer with other children in Watson Lake when the net tipped over and the goal post hit her on the back of the head on its way down.

The girl was taken to the local hospital, but died of her injuries.

Watson Lake mayor Richard Durocher said the community is shaken by the death.

“The community is pretty solemn today, it’s pretty quiet,” said Durocher.

“You go around town – I’ve been to a few places – and I’ve seen their eyes well up in a couple of situations, it’s very tragic.”

The net has been removed from the field.

The girl’s name will not be released at the request of her family.