Talkeenta man dies in ATV rollover

MAT-SU — A Talkeetna man died Saturday after rolling his all-terrain vehicle into Bird Creek.

Alaska State Troopers report that Craig Wayne, 56, of Talkeetna was in the water near the mouth of Bird Creek when a call came in at 1 a.m. Saturday. Troopers and medics went to the scene in a chartered jet boat.

At the scene, investigation showed Wayne was driving his ATV down the riverbank when he slid off an incline, landing in the water, the troopers report says. The ATV rolled over, landing on top of him.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said it’s unclear what brought Wayne to the river; if he was camping, fishing, trail-riding or had a residence there, or if he was there alone.

She’s also not positive who called troopers. The call could have been placed by somebody with Wayne or a passerby.

“From what it sounds like it was somebody that came across him [who placed the call], but I don’t have any confirmation of that,” Peters said,

Wayne was pronounced dead and taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage, troopers report.

Peters said Monday that it was unclear to her what exactly caused Wayne’s death — drowning or injuries sustained when the ATV rolled on top of him. That sort of information will have to come from the medical examiner who will conduct Wayne’s autopsy.