On Sunday night, a patrol trooper out of Palmer found a man who had been riding his ATV on the trail near Knik Goose Bay Road and Togowoods Drive.

When he was found, Daniel A. Merrill, age 45, of Wasilla, was trapped under the ATV. The ATV was on its side.

Merrill was unresponsive when found, Central Mat-Su Fire and EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.

The investigation into the accident showed that Merrill had rolled multiple times before the ATV came to a rest on top of him. There were no witnesses to the actual crash that took Merrill’s life.

Merrill was not wearing a helmet, and alcohol appears to be a factor. The trooper investigation showed that Merrill was also traveling at unsafe speeds at the time of the incident.

The State Medical Examiner responded to the scene and took possession of the body and next of kin were notified.

The investigation into the accident continues.