BETHEL — A snowmachine operator who crashed in Bethel over the weekend died a short time after being hospitalized for his injuries, police reported.
The crash remains under investigation. It appeared that the driver, identified by police as James Joekay Jr., 28, of Napaskiak, lost control on a sharp turn and went off the road, Bethel police Sgt. Amy Davis said Wednesday.
Police are trying to retrace Joekay's activities before the crash and are gathering more information, including from toxicology tests, she said.
The crash occurred on Standard Oil Road off Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway and near an entry point for the frozen Kuskokwim River. Police were alerted just before 8:30 a.m. Saturday.