Alaska News

Trooper Procession

A man was among those who got out of vehicles and stood at attention Wednesday morning during a procession of more than 200 vehicles honoring Trooper Tage Toll, 40, and pilot Mel Nading, 55, who died in a helicopter crash late Saturday while rescuing stranding snowmachiner Carl Ober at Larson Lake, not far from Talkeetna. Ober also persished in the crash.

Wednesday's procession started at the State Medical Examiner's Office in Anchorage and traveled Boniface Parkway before splitting at the Glenn Highway. Vehicles with Nading headed to Evergreen Funeral Home in Anchorage while those with Toll to Heritage Funeral Home in Wasilla.

At a press conference Monday, Alaska trooper director Col. Keith Mallard noted Nading saved "hundreds of lives" in Alaska, receivin so many commendations for his efforts to help others that Mallard admitted he'd lost count.

"It's a loss to everybody know knew Mel," Mallard said. "It's like losing a family member."

Toll leaves behind a wife and three sons. Nading is survived by his wife, three daughters and five granddaughters.

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