A Denali Park resident died and another person was critically injured in a collision involving two vehicles on the Parks Highway on Friday.
The accident around Mile 55 of the highway was first reported around 11:30 a.m. Friday. A pickup heading north lost control and crossed into the southbound lane, colliding with an SUV head on, Alaska State Troopers said in an online report.
The SUV’s driver, 66-year-old Lance Myers, was declared dead at the scene while a passenger in the SUV was taken to the hospital with injuries described as life-threatening, troopers said.
Mat-Su Borough emergency services director Ken Barkley described slick road conditions in the area, which is north of the Big Lake cutoff, with mist in the air. The occupants of both vehicles were wearing seat belts, troopers said.
The highway was closed for about three hours as Alaska State Troopers investigated, reopening around 3 p.m. Friday.
Myers’ next of kin have been notified of his death.