Tragedy on the Ice: A Young Life Lost in Bethel

Tragedy on the Ice: A Young Life Lost in Bethel.

In the heart of Bethel, a community is grieving the devastating loss of a 17-year-old boy, James J. McMillen, who died on Saturday evening after the snow machine he was riding broke through the surface of a man-made pond and sank.

According to police, James had been "skipping" the pond—riding a snow machine at high speed across the surface of the water—alongside three adults, two of whom were also participating in the activity. Tragically, when it was James’s turn to ride, his snowmachine did not stay afloat. He was pulled under the surface and, weighed down by heavy cold-weather gear, was unable to swim to safety. Two men attempted to rescue him but were also overcome by the freezing water and forced to retreat. McMillen’s body was later recovered by local first responders, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital.

While no foul play is currently suspected, authorities say an investigation is ongoing. The pond in question, located just off Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway and adjacent to Bethel’s public health center, is at least six feet deep and known to periodically fill with water. The tragedy has raised quiet but serious questions within the community about the safety of such activities, the condition and oversight of the area, and the responsibilities of those present when this young man lost his life. James’s family has confirmed the loss and is now navigating the unimaginable heartbreak of planning a funeral for a child who should have had his whole future ahead of him. Community members are rallying to support the family with funeral and travel expenses.

In the wake of such a heartbreaking event, families often ask not only how something happened, but whether it should have been allowed to happen at all. These are difficult questions—but important ones. Questions about supervision. About known dangers. About whether reasonable precautions were taken to prevent an outcome like this. When tragedy strikes under preventable circumstances, Alaska law provides a path for families to pursue accountability—both to honor the memory of the one lost and to help ensure it never happens to another.

If your family is navigating grief in the aftermath of a preventable accident, you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes the only way to get answers is to ask the right questions, and sometimes the only way to ask those questions is with experienced legal help. Attorney Eric Derleth – Trial Lawyer Inc. represents Alaskan families in wrongful death and negligence cases, with deep respect for the dignity of those who have suffered loss. We’re here to help.

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