From USAToday...
One sled dog was killed and three others injured while competing in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Raceearly Saturday morning when a man on a snowmobile purposely drove into two dog teams.
Mushers Aliy Zirkle and Jeff King were attacked in two separate incidents outside the village of Nulato, a community of 236 on the Yukon River a little more than halfway into the 1,000-mile race to Nome.
"The suspect has been identified by the village police officer in Nulato, and authorities are conducting an investigation," according to a statement from the Iditarod Trail Committee. A motive for the attack is not clear.
King's sled received the worst of the attacks. According to the Iditarod release the crash resulted in the death of Nash, a three-year-old male dog.
"In addition, Crosby, a three-year-old male, and Banjo, a two-year-old male, received non-life threatening injuries. King requested and received medical attention at the checkpoint," the release stated.
One dog on Zirkle's team was bruised in the separate incident. Officials described the injury as non-life-threatening.
However, both sleds were affected.
"Regrettably, this incident very much alters the race of the two mushers competing for a win; however, both are going to continue on their way toward Nome," the released stated.
Race marshal Mark Nordman told the Associated Press on Saturday that Zirkle, 46, who finished second three times from 2012-2014, was mushing from Kokukuk (KOY’-yoo-kuk) to Nulato, a run of less than 20 miles on the Yukon River, when she was hit.
The snowmobile hit the side of Zirkle’s sled at 5 miles out of Koyukuk, turned around multiple times and came back at her before driving off, Alaska State Troopersspokeswoman Megan Peters told the AP by email.
The snowmobile reappeared 12 miles out of Nulato. He revved up and was pointed at Zirkle before leaving, Peters said.
King, a four-time Iditarod champion, was behind Zirkle.
When King reached the vicinity, he was struck from behind by the snowmobile, when his dogs were hit.
A statement on the Iditarod Trail Committee website made clear the villagers of Nulato were not to blame for the incident.
"This is just one bad person," the statement said. "The people of Nulato have given the mushers a VERY warm welcome, this year and in years past. The local people here are equally devastated by what happened."
Zirkle left Nulato with 14 dogs at 6:16 a.m., after dropping one dog in the village. She was in third place.
The race leader is former champion Mitch Seavey, who reached Kaltag at 7:41 a.m.
Brent Sass was running second. He left Nulato at 3:43 a.m.
Reigning champ Dallas Seavey, the son of Mitch Seavey, was in fourth place. He left Nulato at 7:14 a.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
One sled dog was killed and three others injured while competing in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Raceearly Saturday morning when a man on a snowmobile purposely drove into two dog teams.
Mushers Aliy Zirkle and Jeff King were attacked in two separate incidents outside the village of Nulato, a community of 236 on the Yukon River a little more than halfway into the 1,000-mile race to Nome.
"The suspect has been identified by the village police officer in Nulato, and authorities are conducting an investigation," according to a statement from the Iditarod Trail Committee. A motive for the attack is not clear.
King's sled received the worst of the attacks. According to the Iditarod release the crash resulted in the death of Nash, a three-year-old male dog.
"In addition, Crosby, a three-year-old male, and Banjo, a two-year-old male, received non-life threatening injuries. King requested and received medical attention at the checkpoint," the release stated.
One dog on Zirkle's team was bruised in the separate incident. Officials described the injury as non-life-threatening.
However, both sleds were affected.
"Regrettably, this incident very much alters the race of the two mushers competing for a win; however, both are going to continue on their way toward Nome," the released stated.
Race marshal Mark Nordman told the Associated Press on Saturday that Zirkle, 46, who finished second three times from 2012-2014, was mushing from Kokukuk (KOY’-yoo-kuk) to Nulato, a run of less than 20 miles on the Yukon River, when she was hit.
The snowmobile hit the side of Zirkle’s sled at 5 miles out of Koyukuk, turned around multiple times and came back at her before driving off, Alaska State Troopersspokeswoman Megan Peters told the AP by email.
The snowmobile reappeared 12 miles out of Nulato. He revved up and was pointed at Zirkle before leaving, Peters said.
King, a four-time Iditarod champion, was behind Zirkle.
When King reached the vicinity, he was struck from behind by the snowmobile, when his dogs were hit.
A statement on the Iditarod Trail Committee website made clear the villagers of Nulato were not to blame for the incident.
"This is just one bad person," the statement said. "The people of Nulato have given the mushers a VERY warm welcome, this year and in years past. The local people here are equally devastated by what happened."
Zirkle left Nulato with 14 dogs at 6:16 a.m., after dropping one dog in the village. She was in third place.
The race leader is former champion Mitch Seavey, who reached Kaltag at 7:41 a.m.
Brent Sass was running second. He left Nulato at 3:43 a.m.
Reigning champ Dallas Seavey, the son of Mitch Seavey, was in fourth place. He left Nulato at 7:14 a.m.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
