An Alaska state trooper and a 59-year-old Soldotna man were taken to the hospital Monday evening after they were involved in a two-vehicle wreck, according to troopers.
The crash occurred near mile 99 of the Sterling Highway, south of Soldotna. Edmond Mallette Jr. was driving an Oldsmobile SUV southbound on the highway when he missed his turn. He started to turn his SUV around in the roadway, but did not see the oncoming trooper patrol car, troopers said in an online dispatch.
Trooper Thad Hamilton was driving with the patrol car's emergency lights on, troopers said. Mallette's SUV hit the patrol car's passenger side as it passed. Both cars went into a ditch and rolled onto their sides, troopers said.
Troopers responded to the crash around 5:20 p.m. Both drivers had been wearing their seat belts. They were taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to troopers.
Both vehicles were reportedly totaled.