Snowmachine crash kills Palmer man

A 29-year-old Palmer resident died Thursday when he lost control of the snowmachine he was driving and crashed into a boat parked near his home.

Alan Scott Ensley died of an apparent basel skull fracture, according to Alaska State Troopers. He was wearing a helmet but troopers said he had been drinking earlier in the evening and alcohol was a factor in the incident.

Ensley went for a ride on his 1990 Polaris 600 snowmachine about 2 a.m. Thursday, troopers said. When he hadn't returned an hour later, girlfriend Jody Rummer began looking for him.

Troopers said Ensley's body was discovered at 10:30 a.m. the same day about 200 feet from his residence near Mile 15 Old Glenn Highway.