Alaska State Troopers revealed on Tuesday that on March 31st, hikers along the Rampart winter road discovered a man there with very severe injuries and clinging to life. Life-saving measures were administered but were ultimately unsuccessful.

Fairbanks-based troopers responded via HELO-2 and opened an investigation.

It was determined that 65-year-old Robert Appleford of Fairbanks was towing a “large housing unit” to a mining claim in the area with a bulldozer when the dozer lost traction.

Appleford got off of his dozer and was working to unpin the skid trailer, the dozer rolled backward onto Appleford. He sustained critical injuries.

Troopers transported Appleford’s remains to the State Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy and his next of kin were notified of the incident.

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