Nicholas William Dirks, 12-11-05

In brief

Published: December 13, 2005

ATKA

Alcohol may be factor in crash that killed man, hurt daughter

A 59-year-old man died and his 4-year-old daughter was seriously injured after he crashed his ATV into a tank at the village fuel farm, Alaska State Troopers said.

Witnesses told troopers that Nicholas William Dirks had been drinking before the Sunday afternoon accident. His daughter, Nikki Dirks, was medevacked off the island. She was breathing but not conscious, troopers said. Troopers did not know her condition Monday night.

Neither of the two was wearing a helmet, troopers say.

Atka, population 90, is located on Atka Island, 350 miles west of Unalaska, near the end of the Aleutian Islands.

The investigation continues, troopers said.

-- Anchorage Daily News