Aleutian Islands, AK--On Aug. 24, an ATV accident occurred on Atka Island, Alaska, involving Jim Shockey's daughter, Eva; Hunting Report editor Barbara Crown; and Alaskan guide Kevin Adkins during the first day of their hunt for reindeer.

The three were seated side-by-side on an ATV with a bench-style seat when it lost traction on a slope and slid backward before rolling over an embankment to a shelf 15 feet below the slope. An assistant guide, native Aleut Danny Snigaroff, as well as VP of sales and territory exploration Dan Goodenow were there on separate vehicles and assisted in returning the three injured people back to camp and then to a small medical facility at a local village where they were examined. Although no serious injuries were uncovered by the local medical personnel, Dan Goodenow and George Weaver of APICDA, Inc (Shockey’s partner in the Aleutian Island reindeer hunting project) mutually agreed that a full medical evaluation at a modern medical facility was required as soon as possible in the event there were internal injuries that could not be detected with the equipment available in the village. George Weaver moved swiftly to charter a private jet to Anchorage where all three persons were further examined at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Fortunately, no one suffered any broken bones or internal injuries as a result of the accident. All were released from the hospital the same day and are scheduled to return home.

Barbara Crown says this of the incident, “We work in a business where there is always the danger of a serious accident – it’s actually part of the appeal of these types of hunts. The real question is whether you are with people who are prepared for the worst and know what to do if something terrible happens in a remote part of the world where calling 911 and waiting for help isn’t an option. Everyone involved kept cool heads and came up with a solid plan for getting us out of the field safely. Professionalism and clear thinking kept what was already a bad situation into becoming something much worse.”