Over 2 Months After ATV River Ice Breakthrough, Passing Pilot Spots Body On Susitna River

Side-By-Side ATV Broke Through The Ice In Early March 

Two Were Lost, Three Survived 

Location: Mat-Su 

Type: Search & Rescue  

Dispatch Text: 

UPDATE May 23: On May 22, 2025, a private pilot contacted the Alaska State Troopers after locating a deceased person on the Susitna River near the mouth. A DPS helicopter was dispatched to the area on May 22nd and, with the assistance of an Alaska Dive, Rescue, and Recovery Team member, recovered the body of the deceased adult male and transported the man’s body to the Wasilla Airport. Troopers then coordinated the transportation of the body to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and positive identification. On May 23, 2025, the State Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the man as 32-year-old Wasilla resident Skye Rench. Next of kin have been notified.

Update: March 8, 2025, after two days of searching and no new updates, Alaska Wildlife Troopers are transitioning to a reactive search. Next of kin for both families have been notified. The two missing persons are identified as Sean Kendall, 42 years old, from Anchorage and Skye Rench, 32 years old, from Wasilla.

This dispatch has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Sean Kendall's last name. It is spelled with two L's. 

Original: On March 6, 2025, Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report that a side-by-side ATV with five adults aboard broke through the ice on the Susitna River around 8:45 a.m. Three people were able to get out of the water, but two were reported to have gone under the ice in the current. Troopers responded to the area with DPS Helo-9 and a DPS fixed wing plane to search for the two missing people at the last known location, downstream to the mouth of the Susitna River. Search efforts are ongoing, including DPS aircraft and aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol. Ice in the area is unstable and search efforts other than by aircraft are not possible at this time. The three people who made it safely out of the water walked to a nearby work camp and were later picked up by chartered helicopter. They declined medical assistance.

This dispatch has been updated to correct the location of the incident. The group broke through the ice on the Susitna River. 

Posted on 3/7/2025 8:44:58 AM by DPS\tewilliams . Edited on 5/23/2025 12:17:53 PM by DPS\ajmcdaniel