(From the State Police Blotter)
On Sunday, October 9, 2005 at 3:42 p.m. Alaska State Troopers in
Soldotna received a 911 call of a bear mauling. Investigation revealed
that Colleen Sinnott, age 50, of Kasilof was mauled by a young brown
bear while taking a walk with her husband, John Poljacik, age 56, also
of Kasilof at 7.5 mile Skilak Lake Road, on the Upper Skilak Trail.
Sinnott reported that the bear appeared suddenly from some alder of the
trail, knocked her down, pounced on her back, then pulled her into the
woods and mauled her. Poljacik ran to the car for pepper spray and the
bear followed him. Poljacik suffered minor injuries to his chest and
back, but refused transport. The bear eventually ran away before
Poljacik was forced to discharge the pepper spray. Ms. Sinnott was
seriously injured in the head, shoulder and side. She was transported to
Central Peninsula General Hospital by Central Emergency Services.
Poljacik stayed behind to look for their two dogs, two seven month-old
newfoundlands. As of last night, only one of the two dogs had been
located. US Fish and Wildlife responded to the scene. The bear was not
located, although numerous bear where reportedly seen in the area.
