Alaska State Troopers in Aniak were contacted early morning on Christmas Day and the caller reported a fatal snow machine accident in Russian Mission.

It was reported that 35-year-old Russian Mission resident, Jeremy J Wigley was the victim of the snow machine crash.

The trooper investigation would discover that Wigley and his wife, Anita Wigley, had been drinking with friends earlier that morning. At approximately 3:45 am, according to the trooper report, Wigley would force his wife onto his black and yellow 550 Regegade Skidoo after an arguement had broken out. With his wife on the machine in front of him, he sped off into the dark.

About an hour later, at 4:45 am, Anita would arrive at the residence of a community member shoeless and hypothermic.

Anita was taken to the village clinic for treatment of her injuries and a search for Jeremy ensued.

At approximately 7:30 am, Jeremy, and the snow machine, now wrecked, was found along the trail near Russian Mission Lake. Evidence at the scene would suggest that Jeremy had been thrown from the machine. It appeared that the machine had rolled several times and debris from the crash covered an area approximately 45 feet leading up to the crashed machine.

Neither of the riders were wearing helmets when they left the scene where they had earlier been drinking.

Jeremy Wigley’s remains were transported to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage for autopsy. Next of kin have been notified.