PALMER — Alaska State Troopers say a 38-year-old Colorado man died Saturday evening in an ATV crash in the Jim Creek area near Palmer.
Christopher Andersen was found pinned beneath the ATV at the bottom of a 25-foot drop about 3 miles from the Jim Creek trailhead, troopers said Monday. The area is part of the Knik River Public Use Area, a popular four-wheeling destination with broad gravel bars framed by the Chugach Mountains.
A bystander found Anderson dead with the ATV pinned on top of him, troopers spokesman John Dougherty said Monday. Troopers and medics responded to the area after receiving notification of the crash just before 8:30 p.m. Saturday.
Andersen was alone when he crashed, Dougherty said.
He was not wearing safety equipment when he was found, troopers said. The state medical examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy.