Rural Alaska

Southwest Alaska man dies in storm, brother treated for hypothermia, troopers say

Alaska State Troopers said two brothers, one dead and one experiencing hypothermia, were found Wednesday about 2 miles from Pilot Station after their snowmachine became stuck in heavy snow.

David and Curtis Francis left the village around 8 p.m. Tuesday to have a fire and hadn’t set a time for when they planned to return, according to troopers spokesman John Dougherty. There was heavy snowfall and wind gusts up to roughly 40 mph reported in the area that night, he said.

Family members began looking for the men on Wednesday after they were unable to find them at home or in the village, Dougherty wrote in an email. They searched for several hours before a village police officer contacted troopers around 7:45 p.m. Wednesday to report that the men were missing, Dougherty said.

Shortly afterward, family located the pair just 2 miles from the village next to their stuck snowmachine, troopers said. Curtis Francis, 43, died at the scene, troopers said. David Francis, 35, was treated at the village clinic for hypothermia. He has since been released and did not have major injuries, according to troopers.

Poor weather and alcohol were suspected to be factors, troopers said. Dougherty said bottles were found at the scene and troopers were told that the men had been drinking. Foul play is not suspected.

Troopers said Curtis Francis’ body was being transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

Tess Williams

Tess Williams is a reporter focusing on breaking news and public safety. Before joining the ADN in 2019, she was a reporter for the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota. Contact her at twilliams@adn.com.

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