The following is the Alaska State Trooper's report:
On 8/4/11 at approximately 1342 hours Alaska State Troopers
Girdwood Post and Bureau of Highway Patrol responded to mile 104.2 of
the Seward Highway for a 3 vehicle crash. Investigation revealed a Ford
11-passenger van was traveling North on the Seward Highway. The van was
driven by Lewis Hayes, age 72 of Anchorage. The van crossed the center
line and struck a Ford F-150 pickup nearly head-on that was traveling
South and being driven by Jason Small, age 39 of Girdwood. The van
continued in the South bound lane and struck a Chevrolet Suburban
head-on that was traveling South and being driven by Dorota Balaban, age
43 of Anchorage. The van contained a total of 8 people, the Suburban
contained a total of 8 people, and the truck contained only the driver.
After the collision and the people in the Suburban exited it, the
Suburban caught on fire. The van had two people entrapped and was
against the Suburban. Bystanders were able to locate chain and used a
pickup to move the van away from the burning Suburban saving the lives
of the two entrapped people inside the van. The pickup continued on and
struck a rock wall adjacent to the highway. The driver of the pickup
was entrapped. Anchorage Fire Department and Girdwood Fire Department
arrived on scene with multiple apparatus. The entrapped people were
extricated and the Suburban was extinguished. The driver of the pickup
died on scene. The driver of the van was flown by LifeMed helicopter to
Providence Medical Center for treatment of life threatening injuries.
All other persons in the van were transported by ground ambulance for
various serious injuries. The occupants of the Suburban were all
treated on scene for minor injuries and released on scene. Additional
responding agencies included Alaska State Parks Law Enforcement and
Alaska Railroad Law Enforcement. All the vehicles involved in the crash
were a total loss. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
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