Second man found dead following skiff collision with barge on Kuskokwim River

Oct. 13—A second man was found dead Thursday after a skiff struck a barge on the Kuskokwim River this week, Alaska State Troopers said.

Henry Alexie, a 22-year-old Atmautluak resident, had been driving the 14-foot skiff when it struck a 285-foot barge being towed by a 119-foot tugboat Wednesday afternoon near Oscarville, troopers have said. Crew members from the barge pulled Alexie from the water but he was pronounced dead, they said.

Investigators were initially unclear if a second person had been in the skiff and began searching the area, troopers said. Search and rescue volunteers found the body of 30-year-old Joseph Martin, also of Atmautluak, around 5:45 p.m. Thursday, according to an update.

Martin is the fourth person to die in boating incidents this week on the Kuskokwim River. A man and woman died in separate incidents and searchers were looking for another person missing after a boat capsized Tuesday near Bethel.

Search groups were also looking for a missing woman this week on the Nushagak River after her boat was found swamped on Saturday.