Accident

[Di*]

Just got this very sad news via June's Idita-support group;

"""Last night, while traveling on the Yukon between Nulato and Galena a
snow machine hit Jen Freking's team. The machine was going about 40
mph and crashed into the stopped team. Blake Freking's team was there
also as both were being snacked. Lorne was killed and Aries was
injured. The teams are now in Nulato and deciding what to do. Aries
will go to the Wasilla Vet Clinic.

I can't believe something like this can still happen. Prayers to both
mushers and of course the dogs.""

[StarDancer]

This news is absolutely HORRIBLE. How can this happen? My heart goes out to the Frekings. They are running Siberian Huskies, although Jen has several Alaska huskies on her team. There is no information on the Iditarod website about this tragedy.

[dilli]

I'm in total shock and sorrow for the Frekings .. what a horrendous tragedy. I feel sick.

http://www.racingsiberians.com/

Aries
http://www.racingsiberians.com/Huskies/Aries/aires.html

Lorne:
http://www.racingsiberians.com/Huskies/Lorne/index.html

[DianneF]

That is horrible. I feel so bad for the Frekings. I don't know much about the trails up there but isn't that awfully fast for a snow machine to be going at least while the race is going on? They know there are dog teams out there.

[Wroom]

Too bad for the finnish mushers. What a way to ruin a good trip in Alaska.

There should be "heatseakers" or something on those machines!

[RMB]

OMG!!! That is unbelievable! Just Horrible. . .can't even imagine. . .

[aren]

Absolutely horrible. What a tragic accident!!
Everybody along the trail should know about the race and should be aware that there are dogteams on the trail. We don't know exactly what happend, but to go at 40mph and not paying propper attention to what is in front of the snowmachine surly look like reckless driving
My heartfelt sorry goes to the Freking family. I really hope Aries will recover and that the teams will recover as racing teams.

[tanglefoot]

oh my god that horrendous! jen and blake were having a great run to nome toghether...i feel totaly gutted for them, i hope they got the guy who did it! didnt he have lights on??? hope aries pulls through...prayers are with you little one! so sad that they lost lorne. just gutted.......

[flowerpower]

Horrible news, I saw an interview with them, they were so stoked about doing the race together for the first time. This is just a terrible tragedy, I can't imagine the pain they must both be feeling. Prayers and hugs to them both.

[Di*]

For those of you who don't follow the Frekings, this was Jen's rookie run of the Iditarod, her husband Blake has run it once before...Anyway, Jen broke her wrist/hand(can't remember which)at the Beargrease Race this year. She had to have steel bolt/plate put in(sorry I can't remember the details for sure) but was still determined to race Iditarod and now this had to happen!
My heart really goes out for her and her husband, so glad he was there when it happened! And yea they better have caught the guy driving that sled!!!!