ANCHORAGE, Alaska— Two three-vehicle crashes Thursday afternoon, each in the Mat-Su Valley and involving multiple rear-end collisions, sent a total of seven people to the hospital, some with non-life-threatening injuries according to Alaska State Troopers.
AST spokesperson Beth Ipsen says the first crash, on the Glenn Highway at Kepler-Bradley State Recreation Area, was reported to troopers at 3:15 p.m.
A Ford Expedition driven by 47-year-old Jeffrey Bell of Anchorage had slowed to make a left turn into the recreation area’s campground, while a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by 45-year-old Sarah Ranck of Palmer had slowed behind it. A 2000 Ford Explorer driven by 46-year-old William C. Fry then hit the rear of the Caravan, pushing it into the Expedition.
Fry, who was not wearing a seat belt, hit his head against the windshield and was taken to the hospital for treatment of apparently non-life-threatening injuries. Ranck and her two young daughters, who were in the Caravan with her, were also taken to the hospital.
Neither Bell nor the other passengers in the Expedition -- 37-year-old Monique Doll of Anchorage and 44-year-old Kevin McShane of Pennsylvania – were injured in the crash.
The Explorer and Caravan were totaled, while the Expedition sustained minor damage. The Glenn was temporarily closed due to the crash, but has since reopened.
In another Mat-Su Valley crash reported to troopers shortly after 4:30 p.m., Ipsen said 26-year-old Nathan Moyer was headed south near Mile 7.5 of Knik Goose-Bay Road when he drove his PT Cruiser into the rear of a Ford Explorer, which then hit a Ford Expedition. The Explorer and Expedition had reportedly slowed, but Moyer didn’t see that they had done so.
Moyer was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center by paramedics, while the Expedition’s occupants -- driver Tara Rozkos and 37-year-old passenger Andrea Taylor of Georgia -- were taken there by friends to be checked out.
Moyer’s 3-year-old son, riding with him as a passenger, and the Expedition’s five occupants -- 40-year-old driver Nicole Carey and four children, three of which were her own -- were not injured in the crash.
Everyone in all three vehicles was properly restrained at the time of the crash, while Knik-Goose Bay Road was down to one lane for about 30 minutes after the incident.
Ipsen says Moyer will be cited for failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision
