Alaska News

2 dead after motorcycles collide with minivan on Glenn Highway

Two Wasilla men were killed Friday night in a crash involving two motorcyclists and a minivan on the Glenn Highway, according to Alaska State Troopers.

At 10:55 p.m., troopers responded to a collision at Milepost 37.5 of the highway.

Troopers say a preliminary investigation found that a group of motorcyclists were speeding on the highway north from Anchorage. Two of the motorcyclists, identified as Adam Johnson and David Hecker, both 21 and from Wasilla, struck a 2001 Honda Odyssey traveling southbound on the Glenn near Echo Lake.

Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said in an email that the motorcyclists hit the van as it was turning across the northbound lane.

Johnson and Hecker died before help arrived, Peters said. Both were declared dead at the scene.

The driver of the Honda, 35-year-old Lance Shepard of Ohio, was taken to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries, troopers said.

An unidentified front-seat passenger in Shepard's vehicle suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken by Life Med to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Peters did not have an update on the injured passenger's condition.

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The state medical examiner took custody of Johnson and Hecker's remains, whose families have been told of the fatal crash, troopers said.

Peters said troopers don't know how many motorcyclists were in the group.At the time of the wreck, only the two men who died were driving in the area, she said.

Troopers are encouraging anyone who witnessed the accident to call them at 907-352-5401. The investigation is continuing.

Jerzy Shedlock

Jerzy Shedlock is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch News. He left the ADN in 2017.

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