Alaska Man Charged With Stealing Truck, Damaging Runway

An Alaska man has been charged with driving a stolen pickup and damaging a gravel runway at the community’s airport.

The incident ended with Andrew Panamarioff, 21, driving off a 40-foot drop, destroying the stolen truck and seeking medical help, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Panamarioff was charged with felony vehicle theft, obstructing an airport, reckless driving and violating conditions of release, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reported. He remained jailed Tuesday at the Kodiak Police Department.

A message left with the public defender’s office seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Troopers took a report Saturday morning that a 2009 pickup belonging to Alaska Native Tribal Consortium had been stolen. Mayor Dan Clarion helped search for the truck and spotted it demolished east of the airstrip.

The truck had created more than 300 feet of tracks on a gravel runway and ruts along one edge.

Clarion told troopers the truck likely was airborne for 40 feet as it left the end of the runway.

“It appeared from the air (the truck) was traveling at a high speed, began to (brake) and attempt to turn around when it left the gravel runway, went airborne and then came down in a field of tree stumps,” charging documents said.

The truck rolled several times. Troopers found blood in the cab.

Troopers located Panamarioff on Saturday afternoon in Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center. He was treated and released.

He told investigators he took the truck and drove it as fast as he could, charging documents said.

The incident led to the temporary closure of the Ouzinkie runway Saturday.