A Levelock man has been charged with DUI, leaving the scene of an injury accident and reckless driving, after Alaska State Troopers say he struck two children on a snowmachine and a sled with a four-wheeler. In an email to Channel 2, AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen says the children’s father reported the incident involving 22-year-old Ryan Andrew. Troopers were first informed of the incident at about 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, with a trooper from King Salmon delayed by poor weather and responding later that day. “There was a Russian New Year’s celebration that night in the village,” Ipsen wrote. “People reported that Andrew showed up at this celebration intoxicated (alcohol) and was driving around the village recklessly. The kids were headed home from this celebration.” According to Ipsen, the 9-year-old was riding a 120cc Sno-Go, which was towing a sled carrying the 6-year-old. The collision occurred at a main intersection in Levelock, near the local Russian Orthodox Church. “The 9-year-old spotted the Andrew’s ATV lights up ahead and stopped to let it go through the intersection,” Ipsen wrote. “Instead, the Honda 500 ATV Andrew was driving came around the corner, hit the snowmachine and ran over the sled. The 9-year-old was knocked off and into a snow bank.” Ipsen says the children received only "a couple bruises" in the crash, and didn't need to be taken out of the village for treatment.
After an investigation, Andrew was taken into custody at his home. He is being held at the jail in King Salmon.
Editor's note: A revised version of the crash details has been provided by Alaska State Troopers, since the release of an initial AST dispatch.