Patrick Reddaway, 06-08-08

Troopers recover snowmachiner's body

Anchorage Daily News, June 9th, 2008

NOME -- The body of a snowmachiner who was killed after falling hundreds of feet down an embankment was recovered near Tighara Mountain and Thompson Creek Sunday night, Alaska State Troopers said.

The body of Patrick Reddaway, 18, was discovered by Nome Volunteer Search and Rescue after the searchers responded in a helicopter, troopers said.

He had been snowmachining with a small group when he failed to follow a turn and tumbled an estimated 700 to 900 feet down the embankment, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said. It was unclear whether he didn't see the turn or thought that the drop wasn't as far as it was, she said.

Reddaway sustained severe injuries during the accident and was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and alcohol did not appear to be a factor.