Early morning snowmachine crashes leaves one man dead, another hospitalized

BIG LAKE — A pair of grisly early morning snowmachine crashes left one man dead and another hospitalized over the weekend.

The first came just before 2:15 a.m. when Jason W. Scott, 34, of Chugiak, lost control o his machine turning from Horseshoe Lake Road onto West Lakes Boulevard.

According to Alaska Tate Troopers, Scott hit the ditch then launched over the bike path and down an embankment where he was found, pinned under his snowmachine.

“He probably traveled I’d say 75 feet in the air and wound up in a small swamp,” said Big Lake Fire Department Battalion Chief James Keel.

Scott was rushed to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and later airlifted to Anchorage. Troopers say they believe alcohol played a role in the crash.

The second crash came almost a day later shortly before 1:20 a.m. on the bike path along Big Lake Road. According to troopers, Mark R. Forbes, 53, of Anchorage, was northbound on the path on a 2008 Bombardier snowmachine when he hit a pole alongside the bike path.

Keel described the post as six inches in diameter and filled with concrete; the type of thing that businesses install to keep wayward cars from crashing through their buildings or gates. This one protected the gate of a business that deals with insulation.

Keel said that wreck happened right across the street from the fire department’s Big Lake Road station. He said a passerby reported the crash pretty soon after the fact.

“He drove through probably five minutes prior and the gentleman wasn’t there,” Keel said.

He said a Houston responder showed up within two minutes and that he himself showed up two minutes after that. Forbes was in bad shape.

“He wasn’t breathing. Had no pulse. We took the helmet off and started rapid CPR on the gentleman,” he said. “We worked on him for probably 25 maybe 30 minutes.”

The rescue attempts were unsuccessful. Forbes was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The strangest things do happen on snowmachines,” Keel said. “It’s the only object (around) and he hit it.

As a mecca for recreational activities in the state, this time of year usually sees a fair number of snowmachine accidents in the area, he said.

“We’ll probably have maybe anywhere from two to four accidents in a year,” Keel said.

As the department does every time this sort of thing happens, he urged the public to stay safe when out enjoying themselves.

“Alcohol does not mix with riding snowmachines,” he said. “Make sure if you’re going to ride you ride safe. Be prepared and don’t use alcohol.”