Joshua Oberg, 01-14-01

Snowmachiner dies from head injury

By Tim Pryor
Anchorage Daily News (Published January 15, 2001)

A 22-year-old Big Lake man died Sunday in a snowmachine accident northwest of Talkeetna.

Joshua Oberg died of head injuries when the ski of a snowmachine hit him in the helmet and knocked it off while he was riding another snowmachine, said Tim DeSpain, a spokesman for the Alaska State Troopers.

Oberg and other people had been in a clearing, riding around in a circle and jumping on two hills, DeSpain said. The spot was about 20 miles west of Mile 126 on the Parks Highway, north of Petersville.

The accident occurred about 12:30 p.m. Clouds created lower visibility, DeSpain said.

A helicopter from Providence Alaska Medical Center arrived at the scene at 2:44 p.m., Providence officials said. Members of the center's medical transport team found Oberg dead when they arrived, DeSpain said.

A trooper helicopter took the body to Anchorage, where it was to be released to the family, DeSpain said.

No one else was injured, De Spain said.