Rural Alaska

Troopers name snowmachiner killed in Eureka avalanche

Alaska State Troopers have identified the snowmachiner killed in Saturday's avalanche near Eureka as an Anchorage man.

Troopers said Sunday afternoon that 50-year-old Randy Pratt was the man killed in the slide, which troopers responded to just before 1 p.m. Saturday near the Nelchina Glacier.

Initial reports indicated contact had been lost with two people, including Pratt, who were snowmachining south of the Eureka Lodge when they were caught in the avalanche.

Troopers were able to make contact with the other person, but Pratt's body was recovered by a trooper helicopter and flown to the State Medical Examiner Office in Anchorage for an autopsy.

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