Alaska
snowmachine deaths this season
So
far this winter, 23 people have died in Alaska snowmobile accidents
– the most in at least a decade. Here's a look at the victims
and what happened in each case.
1. Larry Dale Booth,
38
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 27
What happened: Booth of Selawik drowned with fellow snowmachiner
Charlie Riley when their snowmachines fell through thin ice near
Selawik Lake. They were searching for two ice fishermen, who it
turned out were safe in a tent. Booth and Riley’s snowmachines
were found in about 6 to 8 feet of water, and their bodies were
found floating a short distance away.
2. Charlie C. Riley,
42
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 27
What happened: Riley, of Selawik, drowned with Larry Booth,
above.
3. Jesse "Alan"
Dicks, 60
Date: Friday, Oct. 29
What happened: Dicks of Lake Louise and the former owner
of the Wolverine Lodge drowned when he ignored advice and attempted
to drive his snowmachine across the lake the day after it froze
over. Troopers said he had been drinking.
4. Robert Ahkpuk,
27
Date: Sunday, Nov. 28
What happened: Ahkpuk of Buckland drowned when his snowmachine
broke through the Tuklomaruk River at Selawik Lake around 2:30 a.m.
Ahkpuk and five others were returning from a Thanksgiving basketball
tournament at Selawik, and all three of the group’s snowmachines
went through the ice. Delbert Thomas, 48, pulled the others to safety
but couldn’t reach Ahkpuk.
5. John Mayfield,
32
Date: Sunday, Nov. 28
What happened: Mayfield of Koyukuk is presumed drowned when
the snowmachine he was riding fell into an open hole in the ice
on the Koyukuk River. His body was never found. Mayfield and two
companions were going to the liquor store a few miles outside the
village. Troopers suspect alcohol was a factor in the accident.
6. Robert Keith Coyne,
37
Date: Sunday, Dec. 26
What happened: Coyne of Wasilla died in an avalanche while
highmarking on Skyscraper Mountain around 11:30 a.m. His body was
found a day later in 12 feet of snow.
7. Richard Tikun,
27
Date: Sunday, Dec. 26
What happened: Tikun of Bethel was found dead four miles
east of Atmautluak after he and companion Richard Pavilla, disappeared
Christmas night traveling on the same snomobile toward Bethel. Troopers
say both men were intoxicated.
8. Richard Pavilla,
38
Date: Sunday, Dec. 26
What happened: Pavilla of Atmautluak disappeared Christmas
night whie snowmachining to Bethel with Richard Tikun. His body
hasn’t been found.
9. Jose Payne, 17
Date: Monday, Dec. 27
What happened: Payne of Big Lake was killed while walking
beside Pittman Road shortly before midnight when he was struck by
a snowmachine driven by Sean Doyle, who troopers say was drunk.
Payne was struck from behind as he walked with traffic inside the
guardrail, troopers said.
10. Sean P. Doyle,
29
Date: Monday, Dec. 27
What happened: Doyle of Wasilla was killed when he struck
pedestrian Jose Payne, above, who also died. Doyle drivers’
license was suspended in 1997 for reckless driving, and he had a
history of reckless driving, drunk driving and driving with a suspended
license. An autopsy showed his blood alcohol content of 0.23 percent,
more than twice the legal limit, troopers said.
11. Martin Aveoganna,
19
Date: Sunday, Jan. 2
What happened: Aveoganna of Barrow was killed and a companion
injured in an early morning accident when their snowmachine struck
a utility pole guy wire on Eben Hopson Drive.
12. Diane Atkins,
48
Date: Thursday, Jan. 27
What happened: Atkins of Nikiski and husband Danny Atkins,
were killed shortly after 10 a.m. when they hit two spruce trees
that had fallen across a road near their home off Island Lake Road
in Nikiski. Troopers reported whiteout conditions from blowing snow.
The couple were on separate snowmobiles, and both were wearing helmets.
13. Danny Atkins,
45
Date: Thursday, Jan. 27
What happened: Atkins of Nikiski died with wife Diane Atkins.
See above.
14. Thomas Lee Hicks,
33
Date: Thursday, Jan. 27
What happened: Hicks of Big Lake was found lifeless about
9:30 p.m. near the base of an electric pole off Hollywood Drive
near Big Lake. Troopers said he was riding in a heavy snowfall along
a utility easement when he struck the pole. He was wearing a helmet
and apparently not going fast, troopers said.
15. Todd M. Delaruelle,
35
Date: Monday, Feb. 7
What happened: Delaruelle of Kenai was found lying in a
ditch about Mile 20 of the Kenai Spur Highway, his snowmachine on
top of him. Troopers say he had attempted to turn on a steep embankment
near the intersection with Robert Walker Road when the machine rolled.
16. Brian Randall
Craig, 35
Date: Thursday, Feb. 10
What happened: Craig of Kotzebue left town with Charlie Patterson,
21, about 10 p.m. on Feb. 9 in the direction of Noorvik. Their snowmachine
broke down about 20 miles from Kotzebue, and they attempted to return
home on foot. A storm came up and the pair was separated. Patterson
returned safely. Craig’s body was found the next day, three
and one-half miles northeast of Nimiuk Point. Troopers say alcohol
was a factor in the death.
17. Floyd Nagaruk,
20
Date: Friday, Feb. 11
What happened: Nagaruk of Elim was a passenger on a snowmachine
being driven in whiteout conditions by Christopher Kalerak, 17.
The accident occurred when the machine bottomed out in a steep ravine
on the trail between Golovin and Elim. Kalerak suffered facial injuries
and was airlifted to Anchorage. Nagaruk died in the rescue helicopter
flight to Nome.
18. Marylunne Wright,
40
Date: Saturday, Feb. 12
What happened: Wright of Delta Junction fell off her snowmachine
as she rode along the pipeline corridor. Troopers say she was struck
by another snowmachine driven by 23-year-old Maria Alaniz and killed.
19. Britton Erickson,
14
Date: Saturday, March 11
What happened: Erickson of Chugiak had been snowmachining
with his family but was off on his own, apparently jumping a small
cornice on the bank above the Tokositna River, troopers reported.
During a jump, the 500-pound machine snagged on some alders, twisted,
tumbled and landed on Erickson, crushing him. His body was found
by his father, Timothy Erickson.
20. Herman Motgin,
31
Date: Friday, March 24
What happened: Motgin of Napakiak was found in a hypothermic
state on the trail three miles north of Napakiak, lying next to
his snowmachine. He was commuting home from his job in Bethel in
a strong wind and snowstorm. Though breathing when brought to the
village clinic, he had no pulse when health aides arrived a short
time later. Troopers say they don’t know why he stopped his
machine. It was functioning the next day.
21. Jeffrey P. Romie,
36
Date: Monday, April 3
What happened: Romie of Ekwok disappeared after leaving
home April 3. Two days later, his hat and a single glove were discovered
on Nushagak River ice six miles south of town, and his snowmachine
was found submerged. Troopers presume he drowned, but his body hasn’t
been found.
22. Craig Demoski,
26
Date: Friday, April 7
What happened: Demoski of Fairbanks was driving his snowmachine
on the road leading to the Arctic Man competition in Paxson when
he struck a snowmachine trailer parked on the side of the road.
Troopers say he was speeding in an area posted at 5 mph.
23. Walter J. Coty
III, 43
Date: Saturday, April 8
What happened: Coty of Fairbanks was highmarking in the
Hoodoo Mountains in the vicinity of the Arctic Man events based
in Paxson. Though he survived one avalanche, he was buried by the
second. His body was recovered the next day in four and one-half
feet of snow.
24. Robert Gottschalk,
51
Date: Sunday, April 16
What happened: Gottschalk of Fairbanks was driving his snowmachine
in the Broad Pass area off the Parks Highway south of Cantwell when
he went off a 40-foot bluff and suffered crushing chest injuries
upon impact. His companions, who all stopped at the top of the bluff,
estimated Gottschalk was travelling between 50 and 65 mph.
©2000
Anchorage Daily News
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