Alaska News

Oregon woman dies days after Valley head-on crash

An Oregon woman has died from injuries sustained in a Sunday afternoon head-on collision on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Betty Erps, 78, succumbed to her injuries Tuesday morning, troopers said.

Authorities continue to investigate what caused the crash.

Troopers responded to the crash at the highway and Vroman Drive around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Their initial investigation found Erps was driving her 2015 Ford Taurus eastbound on the highway when a 1990 Oldsmobile van, driven by 22-year-old Palmer resident Brandon Wolsterman, driving in the opposite direction crossed the road's centerline. The vehicles collided head on, troopers said.

There were three people in each vehicle, said troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters.

Medics took everyone in Erps' vehicle, Wolsterman and his passenger to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Another passenger in the van was flown to Anchorage with serious injuries, troopers said.

Peters said she did not have an update on the airlifted passenger.

Jerzy Shedlock

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

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