Alaska doctor killed when snowmachine collides with dog team
Originally published Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 4:00 p.m.
Updated Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 7:34 p.m.
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ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- An Anchorage pediatrician died after a snowmobile slammed into his dog sled during a mushing excursion in northwest Alaska.
Alaska State Troopers said 53-year-old Roger Gollub was killed in the crash Wednesday night a few miles from the town of Kotzebue.
A local woman riding in the sled, Tracy Schaeffer, was severely injured and was in critical condition Thursday after she was flown to a hospital in Anchorage. Her husband, Chuck Schaeffer, said she broke all the ribs on one side and had to undergo heart surgery and removal of her spleen.
"I have been emotional all day long off and on, but I have to remain strong so I can take our 8-year-old daughter to see her mom," he said in a telephone interview.
Patrick Tickett, 20, was driving the snowmobile in the same direction as the dog team when it hit the sled on a trail, troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said.
The 10 dogs broke off from the sled and scattered, according to Chuck Schaeffer. He said the dogs were later rounded up and were doing fine.
Schaeffer said his wife is an occupational therapist who also runs a mushing excursion business on the side. Tracy Schaeffer knew Gollub through their medical work and when he was in town this week, the plan was to take him along for an exercise run because he had never been mushing.
To give him the full experience, she let him drive the team.
Schaeffer said his wife told him she kept flashing her headlamp toward the snowmobile after noticing its fast approach behind them. The snowmobile also had its headlights on, so it's unclear why it struck the sled, the husband said.
He said the impact reportedly mangled one of the doctor's legs, and Tracy Schaeffer tried to tie a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, despite her own injuries.
"She was conscious the whole time," he said.
Tickett, the snowmobiler was heading to the village of Noorvik 40 miles east of Kotzebue with his passenger, 20-year-old Clarissa Cleveland, when the collision occurred, troopers said.
Tickett tried to drive back to Kotzebue for help. But the snowmobile's belt had broken, so he and Cleveland headed there on foot and soon encountered another snowmobiler. The pair got a ride back to town and reported the crash.
Chuck Schaeffer said the trail is part of a network of links between villages in the region. They are used by mushers, skiers and snowmobilers, including those who are dangerously aggressive drivers.
"This kind of thing was bound to happen," Schaeffer said. "It's unfortunate that someone had to die."
Gollub, a native of New York City, retired in September but stayed on as needed at Southcentral Foundation, an Alaska Native nonprofit health corporation. Foundation spokeswoman Kristin Tolbert said Gollub was an accomplished pianist and track athlete during his high school years in a St. Louis suburb, and he had a longtime passion for ham radio communications.
"Our organization suffers greatly from his loss," Tolbert said.
Community Discussion
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Not to sound calloused - I am an animal enthusiast and am glad the dogs are okay - but really, at this point, who cares about the dogs when one person is dead and the other is critical, without any mention of what happened to the people on the snowmobile? What really happened here?
How very sad. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved. I hope the people on the snow machine are OK.
Manslaughter due to reckless behavior...likely with alcohol or incredible incompetence involved. Frankly I'd be inclined to throw the book at Mr. Tickett.
yet another reason manufacturers need to put speed governors on these damned things... I ride snowmachines myself, but never feel compelled to ride so fast as to not be under control if a dog team or skier appears around the bend. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason to have a machine that can reach nearly 100 miles per hour. If that means the First Dude and his ilk can't race the Iron Dog, TS buddy! Grow up, slow down!
oh yeah, Arctic Man as well...this state would be much better off without that miasma of drug and alcohol-fueled hooliganism. Only people who are mentally eight years old get aroused by the prospect of flying over snow at 100 miles per hour.
My heart goes out to the family of the victims. THis is sad but thank god the snow machine operator went for help, he could have taken off like other people have done in this situation (Lance Mackey's situation). You think after what happened in that race there would be some kind pf plan to seperate the dog teams from the machines. Its a shame that everyone cant share the wilderness but this is happening way to often lately. This is god's country up here, there are plenty of trails available for everyone, designate what can run on which trail. To the survivor of the accident best wishes for a speedy recovery!
The article in the Anchorage paper said that alcohol was a factor. The biggest state in the union and still not enough room for dog sleds and snow machines... My heart goes out to all the families.
Driving fast in the dark, limited visibility, possibly impaired.
Deadly Formula, when will people learn these things not to do? As usual the innocent gets the bad end of it. That too, the youngsters life will never be the same. Dog Mushing headlights are bright too, I don't understand how people can't see them. I can see them shining away from me, when i see a dog musher. No regard I guess.
I know Tracy and Chuck, very wonderful people..I am so sad to hear about this...God Speed...
I wonder why Clarissa went with Patrick on the snowmachine back to Kotz? Why didn't she stay with Tracy and the doctor and try and do whatever she could to help them?
Failure to render assistance?
So stupid and sensless.
My daughter works with Dr.Gollub when he would come into Kotzebue to work the Maniilaq Medical Center and was working with him this week. Needless to say everyone at the Hospital are in a state of shock. Maybe the speculation needs to end until the story is fully reported. Even she said, no one has been told what happen except there was a tremendous amount of damage. The people in Kotzebue just loss Mrs. Sampson and now Dr. Gollub. Having lived in Kotzebue for many years, I am sure the entire community is heart broken, as are the families involved.
Alcohol involved? How surprising. Probably no jail time either.
Such a tragedy. It was a terrible accident, and to all that go out on snowmachines, please be aware of your surroundings and slow down a little. There is not need to fly, even if you think you are the only one on the trail. Hopefully all that survived will recover swiftly and completely. To the doctor that I am sure did so much good to all the residents of NW Alaska, God rest your soul and RIP.
OK, here goes. I spend a lot of time in northern villages, and am in fact in Kotzebue right now. The news on KOTZ radio reported the troopers said ALCOHOL WAS A FACTOR. No kidding. Last night, and every night during the winter when it's not really cold around here you hear the snowmachines blasting around, at high speed. They don't just go from point to point for transportation, it's wap wap wap, Right in town. I think the only reason helmets are worn is to keep warm, in the summer it's 4-wheelers and I have yet to see a helmeted rider. Many drive fast, 40-50 mph.
Last winter I saw folks searching for a guy who who drove a machine into open water between Shungnak and Kobuk, he was a bootlegger, got drunk and was carrying booze between the villages.
Now an innocent guy is dead and a woman badly injured, unfortunately they will not be the last ones.
I hope he goes to jail for a very, very long time.
Charge him as an adult with murder 2.
Very tragic. My prayers, sympathy, and hope for a full recovery for the victims, thier family and friends. DUI throw the book at him.
RIP Dr. Gollub. You were a wonderful, wonderful person.
yurtyeti, your stupidity and ignorance is an inspiration to us all. Using someones death to push your messed up "I'm OK, you suck" philosophy is typical of scum like you. I ride and I have seen people that drive their sleds like weapons. It happens but it is uncommon. This guy will have to explain why he did what he did, and "I'm sorry" won't cut it.
I feel bad for both sides of this accident. However I believe that Mr Tickett was obviously speeding and driving recklessly. It's like the famous saying goes........Young fool,Only in the end do you understand.
There is a reason that so many villages have chosen to remain dry.
Tremendous tragedy!
And yes, State Troopers ARE saying alcohol was a contributing factor in the cause of this.
When will people ever get a clue?
Prayers go out to the families.
Senseless behavior...tragic loss.
"oh yeah, Arctic Man as well...this state would be much better off without that miasma of drug and alcohol-fueled hooliganism. Only people who are mentally eight years old get aroused by the prospect of flying over snow at 100 miles per hour." I'm not even going to begin to tell you how ignorant you are. And I suppose the same for anyone who likes any other form of motorsports.
I'll bet somebody drives a subaru. with a bunch of bumper stickers. about 15 mph below the speed limit.
I"m with you SledneckAK - what has this got to do with either of these events? Two 20 year olds in limited visibility conditions crashed into two people driving a dog team, it's tragic, but that's it. NO NEED TO CONDEMN all motorsports!!
ArcticRacer,
Just to clarify on your comment about my brother who went through the ice last year, he was NOT carrying liquor between the villages, nor was he a bootlegger. I ask that you verify the facts, before you leave any comments like this. It is not only disrespectful to the family, but so NOT TRUE!!!!
Slednecks Unite!
Let's all don our most neon of winterwear, dripping with the latest techno-buzz trinkets!
We'll hang banners of support from our sky-high and way-cool bar risers. Seats are for sissies.
Let our buzzy exhaust cans speak for us, as our breath serves only to fog our lenses.
Sleeping at 10pm??!? Not in my 'hood, cager - It snows, therefore I am. Doing U-turns in your cul-de-sac.
Snow covered property lines, I ride where I please. Patches of grass be damned, you should be honored to be torn asunder by my 2" track.
I'll scratch my initials into your streets with my carbides, but you'll have to use your imagination, as I ride the most ill-handling of motorvehicles.
I'll race your car, because my sled is way fastaar down Badger Rd. I know NO FEAR. Seriously, he lives next door to my cousin.
I've waited all summer for this, and I'm not going to let anyone stop me from riding this winter. Except maybe my Mom.
This stuff happens far too often to be called an "accident". This was outright vehicular homicide, looking for a victim. I hope that they throw the book at this guy.
See what happens when I can't make fun of the liberal hippies anymore..?
arcticracer why dont you get your facts straight before you go on insulting my family. We lost a loved one.
I am requesting an apoligy to my family. He was not bootlegging in between villages. I have no clue where you are getting your information, I would like to know, lets get this story straight. Please lets get your facts together and in order.
Dont be talking crap about people when you obviously know NOTHING! What makes you think he was bootlegging?
I got your back Sonny R.I.P
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