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Snowmobiler dies after plunging through ice into frozen Alaska river, troopers say

A sled dog team croses the Yukon River in the 2006 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. A snowmobiler died Friday, April 29, after falling through the ice while crossing the frozen river.
A sled dog team croses the Yukon River in the 2006 Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. A snowmobiler died Friday, April 29, after falling through the ice while crossing the frozen river. Associated Press file

A 59-year-old man died Friday, April 29, after his snowmobile plunged through the ice into the frozen Yukon River, Alaska State Troopers report.

Troopers found Nicky Myers of nearby Pilot Station dead after receiving a 7 p.m. report that a snowmobile had fallen through the ice while crossing the river, a news release said.

Myers was the mayor of Pilot Station, which has a population of 640, KTUU reported.

A passenger on the snowmobile managed to escape the frigid water and call for help, troopers said.

Police, rescuers and family members found Myers in the water, the release said. He was pronounced dead.

Troopers are continuing to investigate, but foul play isn’t suspected.

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This story was originally published May 2, 2022 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Snowmobiler dies after plunging through ice into frozen Alaska river, troopers say."

DS
Don Sweeney
The Sacramento Bee
Don Sweeney has been a newspaper reporter and editor in California for more than 35 years. He is a service reporter based at The Sacramento Bee.
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