Anchorage

Police identify victim in motorcycle-car collision in South Anchorage

Police have identified the victim of a fatal car-motorcycle collision Tuesday evening in South Anchorage as 30-year-old Douglas J. Bittinger.

The Anchorage Police Department says no charges have been filed and its investigation is continuing. Police are waiting for toxicology reports to find out whether alcohol or drugs were a factor.

Officers responded to the intersection of Dowling Road and the Old Seward Highway at 7:28 p.m. Tuesday after receiving reports about the crash.

Police spokesperson Renee Oistad wrote in a Wednesday statement that Bittinger was traveling eastbound on Dowling, straight through the intersection with Old Seward on a red 2015 Ducati motorcycle. He had the green light, Oistad wrote.

Christopher Turkette was driving a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica, heading westbound on Dowling, Oistad wrote. Turkette reportedly had a yellow flashing arrow as he turned south onto Old Seward.

"The two vehicles collided in the intersection; Bittinger was pronounced deceased approximately ten minutes after the crash," Oistad wrote.

Bittinger was wearing a helmet, police said.

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There was confusion about whether Bittinger's helmet was moved out of the road after the crash, which police discourage as removing items from the scene of a collision can complicate investigations. But Oistad said, according to a single witness, someone removed the helmet from Bittinger while trying to save his life.

There were no other injuries in the collision, police said.

Jerzy Shedlock

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

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