Anchorage

Man apparently struck by state snowplow found dead near Merrill Field

A man was found dead on East Fifth Avenue near Merrill Field late Sunday after he was apparently struck by a snowplow in a traffic lane, Anchorage police said.

A state plow driver westbound at about 11 p.m. saw “something dark" on the road near Tetlin Street and swerved to avoid a collision, police said in an alert. The driver turned the plow around to investigate and discovered the man lying on the street.

Another witness reported to police seeing a man walking in the road seconds before the plow truck swerved. The pedestrian was declared dead at the scene.

The plow driver remained at the scene, police said.

Westbound Fifth Avenue, which had been closed between Concrete Street and Reeve Boulevard, was reopened at about 4 a.m. Monday.

No further details on the investigation were immediately available.

It was the second weekend incident involving a pedestrian apparently struck in a traffic lane by a vehicle. Early Saturday, a northbound vehicle struck a man on Old Seward Highway near Dimond Boulevard, police said. The man suffered life-threatening injuries.

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