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A man crashed into two Iditarod teams killing a dog and injuring three others while driving a snowmobile Saturday.
Arnold Demoski, 26, was arrested and charged with suspicion of assault, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and six counts of criminal mischief.
"Regrettably, this incident very much alters the race of the two mushers competing for a win," the Iditarod Trail Committee said in a news release. "However, both are going to continue on their way to Nome."
Demoski told the Alaska Dispatch News he was driving blackout drunk when he hit the teams.
Demoski was not charged with driving under the influence but could be.
"It's not to say we couldn't follow up with charges after. We might later on, but six or seven hours had passed, so the level of intoxication was not going to be there," trooper Brian Wassman told the Dispatch News.
One of Aliy Zirkle's dogs was injured as Demoski repeatedly tried to harm her team as they made their way to the Nulato checkpoint, according to the Iditarod Trail Committee.
Jeff King, a four-time champion who was behind Zirkle, had a more fatal run in about 12 miles before the checkpoint. Nash, a 3-year old male was killed. Crosby, another 3-year-old male, and Banjo, a 2-year-old male, received non-life threatening injuries.
"I don't know how (Demoski) could not have known I was there," King told the Dispatch News. "I think I was more of a target."
Demoski denied targeting the teams.
"I don't care if people know if I was drinking and driving," he told the Alaska Dispatch News. ""I'm really glad (Zirkle) and (King) are OK and I really feel sorry for Nash."
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