After falling into ice-covered river, two staffers swept away

Summary: The body of a 42-year-old worker who tumbled into the icy waters of an Alaskan river has yet to be found.

The incident: Five men employed by Alaska Directional, Palmer, AK, needed to travel to Point MacKenzie, AK, from a remote jobsite. So the staffers, including Sean Kendall of Anchorage, AK, climbed into a four-door ATV outfitted with six seats.

They maneuvered the vehicle along the ice that covered Fish Creek. But just as the ATV crossed from Fish Creek to the Susitna River, the ice underneath the vehicle gave way. Two of the men, including Kendall, tumbled into the roaring currents of the icy river.

The response: The three crew members who didn’t fall into the river desperately tried to pull Kendall and his coworker, Skye Rench, from the water. But the swift current swept the two men away before they could be reached.

A short time later, state officials launched an intensive search for the men using helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. They scoured the area from the site of the crash to the mouth of the Susitna River, but the rescuers were unable to find the missing workers.

Eventually, officials ended their search and the two men were declared missing. Two months later, Rench’s lifeless body was found near the mouth of the Susitna River, but Kendall’s remains have yet to be located.

The aftermath: Kendall, 42, left behind his wife, Gina Kendall, and their 16-year-old son.

“Sean will be fondly remembered for his kindness, gap-toothed smile, sense of humor and unwavering love for his family and friends,” read his obituary. “His legacy lives through his son and the countless lives he touched with his hard work, generosity and positivity.”

(From the July 7, 2025, issue of Safety Alert for Supervisors. To start your no-obligation trial subscription to the publication right now, please click here).