15-year-old dead in ATV collision in Fairbanks, driver in custody

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - An incident involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in Fairbanks has left one minor dead and another in custody.

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, Alaska State Troopers received a call reporting a four-wheeler crash on a bike trail next to the Mitchell Expressway near Geist Road.

Once there, troopers found a 15-year-old, whose name has been withheld, deceased.

Investigation revealed that the vehicle’s driver, 17-year-old Cade Butler, lost control of the four-wheeler and collided with a tree.

At that point, Butler allegedly failed to render aid to the deceased and left the scene to get help from others before one of his friends dialed 911 from the scene.

Butler has been remanded to the Fairbanks Youth Facility. He is charged with Manslaughter, Failure to Render Aid, and DUI, and is being tried as an adult.

Regarding failure to render aid, Alaska Statute says, in part, that someone operating a vehicle involved in an accident “shall render to any person injured reasonable assistance, including making of arrangements for attendance upon the person by a physician and transportation, in a manner that will not cause further injury, to a hospital for medical treatment if it is apparent that treatment is desirable.”

Next of kin to the deceased have been notified.

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