Anchorage Daily News

Road conditions around the Matanuska-Susitna Borough were generally poor and Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters advised against unnecessary travel. A two-vehicle collision around 4 p.m. at Mile 76 Parks Highway, just north of Willow, injured four people and temporarily blocked traffic, according to Peters and a state Department of Transportation traffic advisory.

Sam Toothman of Willow said driving was "terrible."

"I've got no studs at all. It's just terrible," he said.

Traffic was moving but visibility on the highway was down to about 100 yards, he said.

Closer to Talkeetna, the sudden dump did little to slow business at the Sunshine Family Restaurant at Mile 98 Parks Highway.

"It is snowing," said waitress Kim Follett. "Some people are saying it's really slick. But this is Alaska."

A traveler Friday afternoon told Jennifer Stankowitz, co-owner of the Trapper Creek Trading Post, Mile 115, that anyone headed north should think twice, she said.

A woman arrived that afternoon headed south, Stankowitz said, "and she was crying" because another 40 miles up the road a passing truck loomed out of the snowy highway and ran her off the road.

Stankowitz said the highway was "wet and sloppy."

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