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Fourth Of July Weekends Marred By Major CrashesRecent holiday weekends marked by at least one major crash that injures, if not kills, at least one personRelated Content
ANCHORAGE—In recent years, the Fourth of July weekend has been marred by at least one major crash that’s injured, if not killed, at least one person.
“Usually on holiday weekends, it's a long weekend, people get out there especially if you have gorgeous weather,” said Troopers spokesperson Beth Ipsen.
But Alaska’s roads can be dangerous and, in some cases, deadly.
On Saturday afternoon on the Sterling Highway near Soldotna, Troopers say a 69-year-old Kasilof man was killed and his 65-year-old wife injured when a 16-year-old Soldotna boy crashed his truck, head-on, into theirs—the first fatal crash of the holiday weekend, Ipsen said.
“There doesn’t appear to be any alcohol or drugs involved,” she said. “They were not wearing their seat belts.”
On the same Independence Day weekend three years ago, in 2008, four people were killed in two separate crashes.
“We’re just a little over halfway through the Fourth of July weekend and we have fourth deaths,” Ipsen told CBS 11 News on July 5, 2008. “Those 4 deaths—none of them were wearing seatbelts.”
A year later, on July 4, 2009, a 30-year-old woman was killed near Portage on the Seward Highway when the driver of another vehicle hit hers head-on while trying to pass.
During last year’s Fourth of July weekend, on Fri., July 3, two people were hospitalized with critical injuries after a crash on the Seward Highway near the Dimond off-ramp.
“It's a holiday weekend,” Ipsen said. “People want to enjoy their weekend. There's nothing that's going to ruin it faster than spending that weekend in jail or in the hospital.”
According to reports by the state's office of highway safety, July is usually the deadliest month on Alaska roads. In 2007, 18 people were killed in the month of July alone. Last July, there were seven traffic fatalities.
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akcougar said on Tuesday, Jul 26 at 7:25 AM
Daniel I agree. I am not a professional driver, but like you have seen and been darn near involved in OTHERS accidents. PEOPLE SLOW DOWN, STAY OFF YOUR PHONES, DRIVE.....Pay attention to the road, DO NOT pass just because you cannot stand to be behind another driver. Praetor made a good point. Cellphone usage NEEDS TO BE STOPPED unless its hands free. 32 going on 33 states have already passed it. COME ON ALASKA what is the deal???? People are not learning on their own, other than to LEARN how to hide it. Unfortunately, all the speeding, jumping out into oncoming traffic, and, on the Kenai, dealing with trucks with boats darting out into us in a 55mph zone. DRIVE DEFENSIVELY and assume everyone is messed up. I've had 30 yrs of safe driving without any accidents. How many can say that. Its simple...JUST DRIVE!
71301976DanielJ04 said on Tuesday, Jul 5 at 10:49 AM
iI am a professional truck driver, and i have seen a amazing , if not horrifing jump in the amount of near misses and violations. when taking a closer look at the driver, he/she usually has a phone to their ear. And more often than not it is usually a teen with little to no driving experience, chatting or texting away. At least when i am in a truck i am afforded a bit of protection, in my own personal vehicle i am a target at large for the ignorance and stupidity of others. sad.
70184104praetor01 said on Monday, Jul 4 at 2:48 PM
Very often it's stated "drugs or alcohol (were or were not) involved. What about cell phone use? The cops should get the phone records and find out. Cars and trucks just don't drive themselves into the oncoming lane unless they've been inadvertently pointed in that direction.
70144306stinker said on Monday, Jul 4 at 12:12 PM
great article of death to bring people down on this day
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