A Fort Wainwright soldier on a Klutina River fishing trip with fellow soldiers died Saturday after their rented jet boat struck a rock and overturned, dumping him and three other people into the river.
According to a Monday AST dispatch and U.S. Army Alaska spokesperson Maj. Alan Brown, the deceased -- 23-year-old Pvt. Christopher Covington -- was one of three soldiers aboard the boat, along with Spcs. Columbus Jones Jr., 39, and George Brady, 23. Jones' 11-year-old son, Columbus Jones III, was also aboard.
Troopers were informed of the incident, which took place about eight miles upriver of the Klutina River boat launch, at about 10 a.m. Saturday.
"The boat operator, (Jones Jr.) experienced mechanical problems and was unable to maneuver the vessel," troopers wrote. "The fast river current pushed the vessel into a submerged rock and flipped the boat. Jones and his son were able to cling to the boat for a short time before they were separated by the current."
Jones Jr. was able to reach the river's shore on his own, while members of a fishing guide service were able to rescue Jones III from the river as well as Brady, who had been washed downstream but also reached shore. Covington, however, spent an undetermined amount of time in the water before he was found.
"Covington continued downstream an unknown distance before he was pickup by a private jet boat," troopers wrote. "Covington was not breathing when he was located and (the boat's occupants) began CPR."
Covington was taken to Copper Center medics at the Klutina River boat launch and then to the Crossroads Medical Clinic, where he was declared dead.
Troopers say all four occupants of the boat were wearing life jackets, and that alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the incident.
AST spokesperson Megan Peters says the boat, owned by Fort Wainwright Outdoor Recreation, was rented to the men under the military's Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, which offers a variety of outdoor gear. She didn't immediately have further details beyond those listed in Monday's dispatch.
According to Brown, Covington was assigned to Fort Wainwright's 1-52d Aviation Regiment. He says the Army is investigating the incident, which initially appears to be a simple boating accident.
"We're certainly looking into what happened, and we'll be working with the Alaska State Troopers to get to the bottom of it," Brown said.
Brown expressed his condolences to Covington's family and comrades, calling Saturday's events tragic.
"Any time we lose our brothers and sisters, it's a terrible day," Brown said.
The state medical examiner's office has requested Covington's body for an autopsy. His next of kin have been notified by members of the military.
Contact Chris Klint