Jonah P. Andrew, 04-23-07

Bethel snowmachiner dies in crash

Anchorage Daily News

Published: April 24, 2007

A Bethel man died Monday after crashing his snowmachine on Lonely Lake, about 15 miles south of town, Alaska State Troopers reported.

Around 3 p.m., four bird hunters met up with Jonah P. Andrew, 26, in an area where there were birds, Trooper Teague Widmier said.

“The four went their own way, and Mr. Andrew went off across the lake,” Widmier said.

That night, about 10 o'clock, the hunters saw what turned out to be Andrew’s body on the lake, Widmier said in a voice-mail message. They alerted troopers.

The investigation showed Andrew “lost control after hitting a snow berm in the middle of the icy lake,” Widmier said.

Andrew was going fast, hit the handlebars and other parts of the snowmachine and suffered injuries to his head and ribs, troopers said. They said he hadn’t been drinking. His parents and wife were notified. Reporter Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com