Jeff King is photographed after arriving at the Unalakleet, Alaska. checkpoint in the Iditarod.
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The Iditarod was struck by violence Saturday morning after a rogue snowmobile driver allegedly attacked two mushers, killing a 3-year-old dog in the process. “We are disturbed and saddened that celebrated Iditarod veteran dog teams lead by Jeff King and Aliy Zirkle were struck by a resident of our village”, officials wrote.
This undated photo provided by Husky Homestead shows Banjo, a dog that was injured when a man drove a snowmobile into teams of two mushers near the front of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Saturday in Alaska. King also sought medical treatment after his arrival. Organizers said the snowmobilers attempted to harm her and her team, with one of her dogs receiving a non-life threatening injury.
“The snowmachiner made three separate attempts, or passes at her, including turning around several times”, said Danny Seavey, the brother of musher Dallas Seavey, in an Iditarod video.
Alaskan State Troopers have identified a suspect in the incidents, which occurred about 12 miles (19 km) from the Nulato checkpoint, about 582 miles (936 km) into this year’s 975-mile (1,570-km) course, according to a statement posted on the race website.
Spokeswoman Megan Peters says the snowmobiler first hit the side of a sled driven by 46-year-old Aliy Zirkle (AL-ee ZUR-cul) between Koyukuk (KOY’-yoo-kuk) and Nulato.
Zirkle left Nulato at 6:16 a.m.in third place. “I have one dead and several hurt”, King said to the official. “I stood there as my dogs struggled in pain, with broken limbs and in the throes of death, for one of them”, King said. But the four-time champion said later the snowmobile had missed both him and his sled when it crashed into his dogs at high speed from behind.
The man said Demoski wasn’t home and took a message.
Iditarod organizers said both mushers plan to finish the race. It is with great regret and sadness that we offer our condolences to Jeff King for the loss of his dog Nash.
Musher Nathan Schroeder of Warba was was listed in 28th place early Saturday, resting in Galena. He left Nulato one minute after Sass.
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Two mushers scratched Saturday.
