Alaska News

Troopers seek semi driver believed involved in Parks Highway crash that killed 4

Alaska State Troopers want to talk to the driver of a semi believed involved in a multi-fatality crash Monday afternoon on the Parks Highway.

Four men died after the driver of a 2017 Dodge van tried to pass the commercial vehicle in a no-passing zone south of Cantwell. The van collided with a 2007 Ford F-150 pickup in the opposite lane, seriously injuring a child inside.

On Tuesday afternoon, troopers identified one of the deceased as Basava P. Veluvola, 78, of India. The person in critical condition at an Anchorage hospital is Venkata R. Kadiyala, 58, also from India, troopers said.

The Times of India also reported that a politician from the state of Andhra Pradesh was among the dead.

The collision also injured the child's parents, identified Tuesday as 23-year-old Collin Koskey and 21-year-old Felicia Koskey, both of Fort Wainwright, troopers said in an update.

Koskey described the collision, but the semi driver didn't stop, a troopers spokesman said Tuesday.

"There is no reason to believe the truck driver was at fault at all," spokesman Tim DeSpain said in an email.

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Any witnesses, including the driver, are asked to call the Fairbanks troopers post at 907-451-5100.

The van's driver, a 56-year-old man, and a passenger died in the collision. Two other men in the van died during transport to a hospital, troopers said late Monday.

A fifth person in the van was flown to an Anchorage hospital with injuries described as critical.

Multiple good Samaritans provided care before responders arrived, troopers said.

Two ER nurses on vacation from Texas were the only medical staff on scene for about 40 minutes, the update said. They were instrumental in undertaking lifesaving measures and also instructing others how to help.

Others who stopped included former EMS volunteers and a civilian troopers employee.

Along with troopers from Cantwell and Healy, two Fairbanks Police Department officers returning from Anchorage stopped to help with traffic control, troopers said. EMS and firefighters came from Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Willow, Cantwell and Tri-Valley. EMS and law enforcement from Denali National Park also responded.

The accident marked the third multiple-fatal incident on the Parks in as many months.

Two 21-year-olds died in a collision with a fuel tanker in July.

Four people died, including a mother and daughter, after the woman drove drove into oncoming traffic and collided with two motorcycles on Labor Day.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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