A moose hunter who discovered the remains of Chris Mccandless in the Alaskan wilderness - and inspired the Into The Wild book and film - has been shot and killed by police.

Gordon E. Samel was shot after leading Wasilla troopers on a wild chase through the city last weekend (08-09Mar14).

He took off after one officer attempted to apprehend the hunter following reports he was too drunk to drive.

Samel's grisly discovery of adventurer MCCandless' body in an abandoned school bus inspired author Jon Krakauer to write the book that Sean Penn adapted for the big screen in 2007.

Police reports suggest officers opened fire when Samel put his truck in reverse and appeared to be intent in running them over. Samel was declared dead at the scene.