Anchorage Daily News

The body of a Gustavus teenager whose car was found submerged in water off a pier Sunday was recovered from the water under the pier Monday afternoon, according to Alaska State Troopers. Phillip Austin Kesterson, 16, was discovered in the water at about 3:40 p.m., troopers said. His family has been notified.

Kesterson was last seen driving the vehicle at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday after a bonfire party near the pier.

The car was discovered with its door open and no one inside in the waters of Icy Passage north of Icy Strait at about 1 p.m., according to the Coast Guard. It appeared to have been driven off the pier.

By 4 p.m., searchers in planes, private boats and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter were looking for the boy.

The search continued Monday with the Coast Guard cutter Liberty looking in the Icy Straits area, a Coast Guard helicopter bringing the Sitka Diva Team and the volunteer search-and-rescue team SEADOGS flying from Juneau to help, troopers said.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said troopers were investigating the death and didn't know why Kesterson's vehicle went off the pier.

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