Anchorage Daily News

FAIRBANKS -- A van plowed into a school bus in Fairbanks Tuesday morning, causing the vehicles to go up in flames, sending an elderly woman to a Seattle hospital with critical burns and closing the road for about five hours, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The crash took place at Mile 10 Chena Hot Springs Road at about 9:30 a.m., when a 1974 Ford van driven by Two Rivers resident Travis Spurling, 20, lost control while heading west on a curved incline and veered into oncoming traffic, troopers said.

A 1998 International school bus owned by Laidlaw Transit Inc. and driven by Vicky L. Glebavicius, 42, of North Pole was in its way, troopers said.

The rear passenger side of Spurling's van hit the front driver's side of the school bus, knocking the van off the road and causing both vehicles to erupt in flames, troopers said.

The school bus' only passenger, Mary L. White, 64, of North Pole, suffered severe burns and was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to a burn center in Seattle, troopers said.

Glebavicius was also hospitalized in Fairbanks, although the extent of her injuries was not immediately known. Spurling, who was not wearing a seat belt, was treated and released from the hospital.

The vehicles, which hit in an area without fire service, were destroyed by the flames.

The road reopened at about 2:30 p.m.

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