Two teenage Fairbanks girls died Monday night when their SUV collided with a pickup and ended up partially submerged in a creek along the Richardson Highway, troopers said.
Driver Carmella Flynn and passenger Theresa Runfola, both 17, died following the crash near Mile 210 of the Richardson, troopers said in a Tuesday dispatch.
Word of the wreck, which also involved a Ford F-350 pickup driven by 37-year-old Lucas Clooten of Fairbanks, reached troopers at about 4 p.m. Monday.
"It was reported that vehicles collided head-on and one vehicle was overturned and submerged," troopers wrote. "The submerged vehicle, a 2003 GMC Yukon, was pulled from the water and two people were recovered from inside the vehicle. Lifesaving efforts were attempted but unsuccessful."
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said in an email that Fort Greely Fire Department and Delta Medical Transport units transported Flynn and Runfola from the scene, but they died during treatment. It wasn't clear how long they were in the water.
"The Yukon crashed into Phelan Creek," Peters wrote. "The water was approximately 5-7 feet deep where the vehicle came to a rest in the water."
Clooten was unhurt in the crash, troopers said, after multiple airbags deployed in his truck.
"Preliminary investigation indicates that Flynn was northbound and lost control negotiating a curve and crossed over into the southbound lane," troopers wrote. "Clooten attempted to avoid the collision but was unable to do so."
The State Medical Examiner Office will conduct an autopsy on Flynn and Runfola, whose next of kin have been notified.