Most of the 11 people hospitalized after a head-on crash Sunday afternoon on the Seward Highway just north of Girdwood were part of a big group returning to Anchorage after skiing, a spokeswoman for Alaska State Troopers said Monday.
Christopher Keffalos, 42, of Anchorage, was driving a Ford Expedition heading north when he lost control on the slick road and the vehicle slid into on-coming traffic, crashing into a Suzuki Grand Vitara driven by Ronald Myers, 56, of Anchorage, troopers reported on Monday.
The crash happened at Mile 91 of the Seward Highway around 4:20 p.m., the troopers said Monday.
Everyone in both vehicles -- eight in the Ford SUV and three in the Suzuki SUV -- were taken by medics to local hospitals and admitted, said Megan Peters, trooper spokeswoman.
Two people in the Ford, including a child and a front-seat passenger who had to be extricated, suffered life-threatening injuries, she said. Updated information about their conditions wasn't available Monday, she said. The trooper who investigated the crash was off-duty, she said.
The big group in the SUV consisted of a family and friends, Peters said.
Everyone in both SUVs was wearing seat belts, she said. Front airbags deployed in both vehicles. There was no evidence of drugs or alcohol involved. Both vehicles were totaled, she said.
Reach Lisa Demer at ldemer@adn.com or 257-4390.
By LISA DEMER