Brown Bear Mauls Man Hiking Penguin Creek Trail
BIRD CREEK—Sunday, June 10, at around 7:30 a.m. a hiker was mauled by a brown bear sow on Penguin Creek Trail. Ben Radakovich, 30 of Eagle River, was hiking alone up the trail, which branches off the Bird Creek Trail, about 1.5 miles from the Bird Creek Trailhead and parking lot. Radakovich was about an hour up the Penguin Creek Trail when he encountered a brown bear cub, said trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. The cub ran away and shortly afterwards he came upon the sow waiting in the trail, which then pounced on him.
The Penguin Creek Trail is a winding, low visibility trail with thick brush and alders on either side as it ascends to the peak. Radakovich was carrying bear spray, but it was knocked from his hands by the bear before he could use it.
Radakovich fell to the ground in a fetal position with his backpack covering him. The bear jumped on him, and at one point the bear lifted him in the air in its teeth and shook him. Radakovich some how managed to break away from the bear and climb 30 feet up a nearby tree. From there he dialed 911.
Approximately 9:20 a.m., two troopers from Girdwood, one off-duty and another just about to start his shift, arrived along with two park rangers and six personnel from the Girdwood Fire Department.
Rich Parry, assistant chief for the Girdwood Fire Department, said they brought a rescue trailer pulled by an ATV. When the rescue team arrived at the scene, the bear had disappeared, Parry said. EMS carried Radakovich out on the trailer and he was transported around 10:49 a.m. by a Helo-1 trooper helicopter that had landed in the Bird Creek Trailhead parking lot.
Radakovich was taken to Providence Hospital where he was treated and eventually released the next morning, said Ipsen. He is recovering from his injuries, she said, and suffered many puncture wounds to his neck and head, and scrapes and bruises, and a deep puncture wound to his lower back.
Park rangers looked for the sow but didn’t find it, although they did find another brown bear roaming nearby, but it was not the bear that attacked Radakovich. Tom Harrison, superintendent of Chugach State Park, said the Bird Creek Trail and valley were closed for a day after the attack, and Penguin Trail was closed until Tuesday, June 19.
Radakovich’s backpack may have saved his life, the troopers said, protecting his vital organs from the bears teeth and claws.
The Alaska State Troopers reported the following incidents. Any charges reported are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Felony DUI, Driving While License Revoked, No Interlock Ignition device
MILE 93 SEWARD HWY—May 19 at about 8:42 p.m., Troopers with the Girdwood Bureau of Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a blue Subaru station wagon for an equipment violation near mile 93 of the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed that the driver of the vehicle, Abram Z. Kraskov, age 56 of Anchor Point, was driving while impaired by alcohol and driving while his license is revoked. Kraskov had two prior DUI convictions in 10 years making this a felony charge. Kraskov was driving a vehicle that did not have an Interlock Ignition device. Kraskov also violated his conditions of release from a prior arrest. Kraskov was arrested and transported to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set at $16,000 plus a court approved third party. The vehicle was impounded.
Motor Vehicle Collision, DUI
GIRDWOOD—May 24 at about 12:43 a.m., Troopers received a report a motor vehicle collision near Gunnysack Mine Road and the Alyeska Highway involving two intoxicated males. Troopers responded to the scene and located the vehicle. The occupants had left the area prior to the Troopers arrival. Troopers later contacted Aaron Finnigan, age 29 of Girdwood, at his residence and identified him as the driver of the vehicle. During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that Finnigan was under the influence while operating the vehicle. Finnigan was arrested for DUI. Finnigan was remanded to the Anchorage Jail on one count each of DUI and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test, where he was held on $1,250 bail. There were no reported injuries in the collision.
Drive in Violation of License Limitation
MOOSE PASS—May 25 at 10:20 p.m., Troopers stopped a vehicle near mile 43 of the Seward Highway for a traffic violation. An investigation showed that Maya Abdallah, 17 of Anchorage, was driving in violation of a limitation on her license. Abdallah was given a summons to appear in court and released.
No Valid Operating License
MOOSE PASS—May 25 at around 5:34 p.m., Troopers from the Bureau of Highway Patrol contacted Letio K. Alaelua, age 23 of Anchorage after a traffic stop for speeding near mile 37 of the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed that Alaelua’s license had expired Sept. 4, 2009. Alaelua was issued a summons for driving with no valid license. His vehicle was parked to await a valid driver.
Illegal Take of Brown Bear from Black Bear Bait Station
COOPER LANDING—May 26 Cooper Landing Based Wildlife Troopers cited Dale Cole, 60 of Anchorage, for illegally taking a Brown Bear from a registered black bear bait station located near Snug Harbor Road in Cooper Landing. An investigation revealed that on May 19, Cole had been hunting black bears from his registered black bear bait station when a brown bear entered and started consuming the bait. At approximately 8:35 p.m., Cole killed the Brown Bear with his 45/70-caliber rifle. Wildlife Troopers collected evidence, which supported the violation. Cole was issued summons for: Prohibited Conduct Generally, Unlawful Methods of taking Big Game, Unlawful Possession or Transportation, and Violating the conditions of his hunt permit. Cole did voluntarily surrender the Brown Bear Hide and rifle. Arraignment was set for July 10, 2012 in Seward District Court.
Search and Rescue
WHITTIER—May 26 at 9:37 p.m., Michael Demolina, age 44 of Anchorage, contacted the Whittier Police Department, reporting that his son, James Demolina, age 16 and his son’s friend, Ben Jungreiss also 16, had fallen while climbing Maynard Mountain in Whittier. Demolina reported that he was in cell phone contact with the two juveniles and stated that both boys had suffered injuries during the fall from an undetermined height. Troopers were notified and responded to Whittier to conduct a search for the juveniles. It was determined that the juveniles were at approximately 1500’ elevation on the mountain and didn’t have proper mountaineering equipment or survival gear. Upon A.S.T. arrival three volunteers from the Whittier Police and Fire Departments were already attempting to reach the juveniles. The R.C.C. in Anchorage was contacted and an Alaska Air National Guard helicopter from JBER was launched to recover the juveniles. Members of the Whittier Fire Department and Alaska Air National Guard rescued both Jungreiss and James Demolina from the mountainside. Both were flown to Providence Hospital in Anchorage for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Driving While License Suspended
GIRDWOOD—May 27 at approximately 9:57 p.m., Troopers conducted a traffic stop on a red 2006 Chevrolet SUV for a moving violation near mile 94 of the Seward Highway. The driver was identified as Anousone Amphayarat, age 24 of Anchorage. An investigation revealed Amphayarat was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Amphayarat was issued a misdemeanor citation for DWLS and a citation for the moving violation. The vehicle was released to a licensed passenger.
Driving While License Suspended
Turnagain Pass—May 27 at around 8:46 p.m., Troopers with the Girdwood Bureau of Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a blue 2010 Ford focus for a moving violation near mile 63 of the Seward Highway. The driver was identified as Rendi R. Keller, age 21 of Wasilla. An investigation revealed Keller was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Keller was issued a misdemeanor citation for DWLS and a citation for the moving violation. The vehicle was released to a licensed driver from Anchorage.
Driving While License Suspended
MILE 62.5 SEWARD HWY--May 27 Troopers stopped a 2010 Ford Raptor F-150 near mile 62.5 Seward highway for a moving violation. The driver, ErikVogt, age 32 of Anchorage, had a suspended driver’s license. Vogt was issued an Minor Offense Citation for the moving violation and a Misdemeanor Citation for Driving While License Suspended and released on scene.
Driving While License Revoked
MILE 63 SEWARD HWY—May 28 at around 3:20 p.m., Troopers stopped a 2011 Ford Escape for a moving violation near mile 63 Seward Highway. The driver, Robert Bergmann Jr., age 30 of Anchorage, was driving with a revoked driver’s license. Bergmann was issued an Misdemeanor Citation to later appear in court for DWLR and released on scene. Bergmann was also issued a Minor Offense Citation for the moving violation.
Driving While License Revoked
MILE 95 SEWARD HWY—May 29 at approximately 8:06 a.m., Troopers stopped a silver Toyota pickup near mile 95.0 of the Seward Highway for a moving violation. The driver was identified as Curtis Harris, age 34 of Girdwood. A records check revealed Harris’s driver’s license was revoked effective Feb. 11, 2012 and ending May 10, 2012 for DUI. Harris was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for DWLR and released.
Motor Vehicle Collision
MILE 13 HOPE HIGHWAY—June 2 at 6:17 p.m., a trooper from the Girdwood post and a Forest Service law enforcement officer responded to mile 13 of the Hope Highway for a report of an injured motorcyclist. Darryl L. Johnson Jr., age 37 of Anchorage, was traveling west on the Hope Highway at a high rate of speed when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into a stand of alder trees, before coming to rest down an embankment. Girdwood Fire Department and EMS from both Hope and Cooper Landing responded to the scene to treat Johnson. Johnson was not wearing a helmet and suffered major head injuries. Johnson was transported to Anchorage for treatment of his injuries.
Search and Rescue
GIRDWOOD—June 3, Gary Foran, age 27 of Fairbanks, called Troopers via his cell phone and reported that he was located approximately 3 miles in on the Winner Creek Trail, near the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. Foran reported that he was not injured but was lost, unsure of the route back to the hotel, and needed assistance getting out. Two volunteers from The Hotel Alyeska security went to the vicinity of Snow Cat Trail on foot and contacted Foran. Foran was escorted back to the hotel without incident and released.
Theft
PORTAGE—June 5 at 8:41 a.m., Todd Lee Loges, age 47 of Anchorage, called to report that sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. on June 3, unknown person(s) stole some electronic items and prescription medications from his vehicle. Loges’ vehicle was parked unsecured and unattended at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center located near mile 5 of the Portage Glacier Highway. The investigation is continuing.
Driving While License Suspended
GIRDWOOD—June 15 at around 10:39 p.m., Troopers with the Girdwood Bureau of Highway Patrol conducted a traffic stop on a silver 2010 Hyundai sedan for a moving violation near mile 95 of the Seward Highway. The driver was identified as Kyle D. Moyer, age 25 of Anchorage. An investigation revealed Moyer was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Moyer was issued a misdemeanor citation for DWLS and a citation for the moving violation. The vehicle was released to a licensed passenger.
Driving While License Revoked
GIRDWOOD—June 16 at about 11:12 a.m., Troopers stopped a 2006 GMC Envoy, near mile 98 of the Seward Highway for a moving violation. An investigation revealed the driver, Lo Xiong, age 34 of Anchorage, was driving with a revoked driver’s license. Xiong was issued an AUC for DWLR to later appear in court and released on scene.
