Updated: 27 seconds in the past Published: 12 minutes in the past
Alaska State Troopers mentioned a Polaris snowmachine tester who struck a sled canine group in December on the Denali Highway, killing three dogs, has been charged with reckless driving.
Troopers mentioned the state has additionally charged snowmachine producer Polaris Inc. The man, recognized by troopers Tuesday as 48-year-old Erik Johnson, was charged final week with the misdemeanor offense, based on a state courts database.
The fees accuse the corporate and Johnson of “working a motorcar in a way which created a considerable and unjustifiable danger of hurt to a person or property,†troopers mentioned in an update.
Johnson was testing snowmachines for Polaris when he struck the sled canine group in mid-December, killing three dogs and significantly injuring one other, based on stories on the time.
Mike Parker, who was driving a group of Chugiak musher Jim Lanier’s dogs, mentioned in an announcement after the incident that the “head-on collision†occurred as he was mushing again towards Cantwell, the place the team’s truck was parked. The group had simply traveled in a 64-mile race from Cantwell to a lodge alongside the freeway.
The snowmachine hit 4 of the dogs operating on the entrance of the group of 12, killing one upon influence, Parker wrote within the assertion. Another canine died shortly after and the third died as Parker and one other musher headed to Wasilla for emergency veterinary care, he mentioned.
A Polaris spokeswoman couldn’t instantly be reached for remark Tuesday.
The firm has mentioned it assessments snowmachines at its facility in Roseau, Minnesota, in addition to different areas together with Alaska, utilizing staff who’re “skilled riders†and bear detailed coaching for the job.
The 135-mile Denali Highway shouldn’t be maintained in winter and is in style amongst snowmachiners and canine groups.
The December incident marked the second time in a month {that a} snowmachine fatally struck a sled canine group on the highway.
In November, two dogs from Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey’s group died and 7 had been injured when a snowmachine struck them alongside the freeway. A Healy man was cited for negligent driving within the crash, troopers have mentioned. Seavey was not operating the group on the time. The musher concerned was not significantly injured.
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