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Polaris, employee charged in Alaska crash that killed sled dogs
Erik Johnson, of Roseau, and Minnesota-based Polaris Inc. were charged on Feb. 8 with the misdemeanor in the crash near the interior Alaska community of Cantwell.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Both a Minnesota man testing a snowmobile for his employer in the Alaska backcountry and the company have been cited for reckless driving after the machine slammed into a sled dog team on a training run in December, killing three dogs.
The State of Alaska charged Erik Johnson, of Roseau, Minnesota, and Minnesota-based Polaris Inc. on Feb. 8 with the misdemeanor in the crash near the interior Alaska community of Cantwell, located about 210 miles (338 kilometers) north of Anchorage.
Emails sent to Polaris and Johnson were not immediately returned, nor was a message left on a cellphone believed to be Johnson’s.
A spokesperson for the Alaska attorney general’s office said in an email that Polaris was also cited since state law “contemplates legal accountability” when employees act within the scope of their employment on the company’s behalf.
Musher Mike Parker was training dogs on Dec. 11 along the Denali Highway, which is not maintained in the winter.
According to an affidavit from Alaska State Trooper Noah Belt, Parker was traveling westbound on the highway when he saw a group of snowmobiles coming at him. He said he began using his 1,000-lumen headlamp to make himself known.
One snowmobile passed him and flashed his lights at Parker. The second machine slammed into the front of Parker’s team, killing two dogs instantly and critically injuring two others. One of those later died.
The trooper interviewed Johnson, who said it was dark and blowing snow, which limited his visibility.
He said that shortly before the dog team was struck, he saw a faint light while traveling up to 50 mph (80 kph) but didn’t know what it was.
No court date has been set.
Last November, a snowmobile struck a sled dog team on a training run on the same highway. The team belonged to five-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Dallas Seavey, but he was not running the team at the time. Two dogs were killed in the accident, and seven others were injured. The driver was cited for negligent driving.
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A woman died as a result of the accident near the resort Tuesday.
TOWER, Minn. — A woman died after a hit-and-run accident Tuesday near Fortune Bay Resort Casino, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.
St. Louis County deputies assisted the Bois Forte Tribal Police at the call on Lake Vermilion Reservation Road. In a press release, the Sheriff’s Office stated that the Bois Forte Tribal Police and FBI will be further investigating the case.
If you know anything about this hit-and-run, submit tips to the Bois Forte Tribal Police at 218-757-3237 or to the FBI at this link.
The Ground Delay went into effect shortly before 7:30 a.m. The FAA says departures to MSP from across the U.S. are being delayed 62 minutes.
MINNEAPOLIS — Federal aviation officials have issued a Ground Delay for Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport due to accumulating snow and ice.
The Ground Delay means departures to MSP from across the U.S. are being delayed an average of 62 minutes as runway crews deal with accumulating snow and ice from the winter storm system sweeping across parts of Minnesota.
The delay is in effect from 7:21-9:59 a.m. Central Standard Time, according to the FAA website. De-icing operations began at MSP at 5:30 a.m.
Those who were planning on picking up travelers from the airport are advised to contact those individual carriers or check out the arrivals and departures section on the MSP website.
KARE 11 is following this situation and will have the latest information as the morning unfolds.
Robbinsdale Police Captain John Elder says while the victims were located in his city, the actual shooting took place late Wednesday in Minneapolis.
ROBBINSDALE, Minn. — Investigators are looking into a shooting that took place late Wednesday involving two communities.
Robbinsdale Police Captain John Elder told KARE 11 that squads responded to a 911 call just after 10:30 p.m. reporting that two people near the intersection of 35th and Beard avenues north had been shot.
Officers arrived and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. First responders immediately provided lifesaving aid, including putting tourniquets on both victims. They were rushed to North Memorial Medical Center, where one man is considered in critical condition.
Investigators soon learned that while the victims were found and treated in Robbinsdale, the actual shooting took place across the border in Minneapolis. Elder said the two departments will be cooperating to investigate the shooting and locate suspects.
At this time no one is in custody.
