This article was updated with further reporting on August 20, 2018
A boat collision on the Kuskokwim River early Saturday morning left one Bethel resident dead and several others seriously injured.
Alfred “Butch” Laraux, age 37, was navigating the river with several friends when his boat hit a Fish and Game vessel operated by Bethel’s test fishery. Bethel’s Fire Department received a call about the crash around 5 a.m. on Saturday, and responded to the accident with the help of Bethel Search and Rescue and the Bethel Police Department. Laraux was found dead at the scene.
"It is very unfortunate and unfair for anyone to lose someone who they care for," said Danielle Moss, a friend of Laraux's who survived the boat crash. "The two things he really loved were his son and being on the water. He is always loved and will forever be missed."
Rescuers saved a total of five people from the accident, including Moss, Laraux’s other friends and two Fish and Game employees. "There were some serious injuries, including femur fractures, pelvic fractures, rib injuries, and head injuries," said Bethel Fire Captain Darren Solesbee. Bethel Police Chief Burke Waldron added that one patient was medevaced to Anchorage for further treatment.
The Bethel Police Department is still investigating how this collision happened, though Waldron says that he suspects alcohol was involved.
Aaron Tiernan, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Area Management Biologist for the Kuskokwim region, flew into Bethel this weekend to support his colleagues. He maintains that the crew was following standard procedures at the time of the crash.
"Our boat had their lights on, as they always do," he said. "That’s standard operating procedure when you’re out there at night. They’ve got a couple of big LED lightbars on the boat that they’ve got on." Tiernan added that his colleagues were “pretty banged up," but expected to make a full recovery.
Laraux’s next of kin has been notified of the accident, and his body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s office.