Driver charged with homicide in death of Alaska Native man

Friday, December 9, 2011  

A 19-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to three charges in connection with the death of an Alaska Native man.

Authorities say Ashley Nichole Bashore was texting on her iPhone when she struck and killed Hubert Tunuchuk, 28, on Easter Sunday. "OMG OMG OMG," she reportedly texted to a friend immediately following the accident.

Bashore was charged with criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence. Authorities say she tried to delete incriminating text messages.

Tunuchuk was from Chefornak, a Yup'ik village. He was studying to be a licensed generator operator.

Get the Story:
Police say driver in fatal accident was texting (The Anchorage Daily News 12/9)
Hit-And-Run Victim's Family Says He Had Big Heart (KTUU-TV 12/8)