2 WHS grads die in accident

TRAPPER CREEK — A snowmachine accident Sunday at Mile 17 Petersville Road claimed the lives of two Wasilla High School graduates.

Officers were summoned at 1:26 a.m. to a crash scene where CPR was in progress. Troopers and medics flew there in an air ambulance and at 2:40 a.m. determined that both riders had died, according to an Alaska State Troopers press statement.

Eric J. Zehnder, 23, and Kimber L. Velasquez, 22, both of Wasilla, were riding a 2007 Ski-Doo Summit 800 from a cabin back to the Kroto Creek parking lot when they left the trail, went over a steep embankment and were tossed from the machine, which hit several trees, the report says.

Friends of Velasquez described her as fun loving and loyal.

“We spent time together going on long walks in the neighborhood and hiking the Butte,” her friend Natalie Slowik said in an email interview. “Kimber was always in such high spirits, she was a joy to be around, and no matter where we were, I always enjoyed her company.”

She said her friend was caring, intelligent and beautiful, a good student and a hard worker who always made time for her friends.

“I heard the news from a friend who had seen posts on Facebook in regards to the accident. I was in shock and in disbelief,” Slowik wrote. “I immediately started shaking, crying and breaking down. It was all very hard to fathom.”

As for Zehnder, he was an accomplished high school athlete who played all four years on Wasilla High School’s varsity hockey squad. His former coach, Eric Troisi, said Zehnder was a standout player who would do whatever his coaches asked of him in order for the team to be successful.

“He was a really good team player. He worked hard offensively and defensively. He was a good two-way player,” Troisi said. “He was really well liked. The kids really liked him on the team. He was a good role model.”

In the years since Zehnder graduated, Troisi said, he would sometimes see him around town and they’d talk. He knew his former player enjoyed outdoor activities

Troopers report that both Zehnder and Velasquez were wearing helmets at the time of the crash. Troopers also report alcohol played a role in the accident.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.