Thursday, May 23, 2013
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Seward Highway Wreck Highlights Dangerous Stretch Of RoadDespite recent wrecks, state transportation officials say the road is getting saferRelated Content
The Seward Highway is known for its picturesque views and the access it provides to Alaska’s wild places. But the beauty and nature of the road can become a siren's call, leading people into trouble.
“It was very picturesque,” said Joshua Levi, who was visiting Alaska from Washington, D.C. “I had no idea that it could be dangerous.”
Alaska State Troopers say 39-year old Girdwood resident Jason Small was killed when his pickup truck was hit head-on by a large passenger van being driven by 72-year old Anchorage resident Lewis Hayes.
Seven others were in the van. A Suburban with eight on board was also hit head-on by the van. Even for this stretch of road, Troopers say it was an immense scene. “We've got a vehicle that's fully engulfed in fire,” said Trooper Sgt. Michael Zweifel, one of the first-responders on the scene. “We have flames shooting 20, 30 feet in the air. We've got smoke covering the entire highway where you can't see past the vehicles. In front of that I have a van with two people entrapped in it, and just behind that van I have a pickup truck with another person entrapped in that vehicle. We've got people walking over the highway. Every time I turned around, I came across people that were injured and were involved in it.”
Besides Small's death, everyone involved was injured in some way. Hayes was airlifted to Anchorage.
Thursday’s fatal collision serves as a fleeting reminder that people need to take extra care on the Seward Highway.
Since 1997, more than 100 people have lost their lives between Potter marsh and Girdwood. Just a quarter-mile from Thursday's wreck site is another reminder of the potential dangers. A state street sign, surrounded by flowers, marks the spot where Ken and Liz Wardwell lost their lives in 2006 when a driver lost control while speeding, and hit them from behind. Troopers say the best way to stay safe here is to pay attention to the right things. “Watch out for the other drivers and watch the road and not the scenery,” Zweifel said.
The hope is that someday, the only flowers that can be seen along the Seward Highway won't be daisies, carnations and roses, but instead will be wild.
Since May of 2006, when it was designated a highway safety corridor, the stretch of road between Potter Marsh and Girdwood has seen about a third of the deaths per year it did before.
There are about $600 million of proposed highway improvements planned for the roadway, but much of that work is still years away. Troopers say they believe Thursday's crash began when the van driver, Hayes, crossed the center line of the highway. They have not yet determined why that happened.
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Tatalina said on Sunday, Aug 14 at 10:36 AM
For all of those people who think it's okay to "own the road", maybe our State Troopers should set up speed traps because I am sick to death of being passed like I am a complete nuisance, although I am doing the speed limit. Does anyone think about the other potential hazards of speeding? Can you stop your little sports car fast enough to avoid a moose? Or the gravel truck that just pulled out of a driveway? Or what if Johnny Junior runs after his toy that is rolling its way into the highway? SPEED KILLS, and don't flog your car to death over your stupid idea of passing people like your in the Daytona!
72332391Soothsayer said on Sunday, Aug 14 at 12:18 AM
What needs to happen is we need to remove these senior citizens from driving on the highway unless they can pass an annual test. Do you know these 70 and 80-somethings never have to take a test since they got their license 50 some odd years ago? This driver crossed the center lane and killed a man and put everyone on that highway at rist.
72315614Geoff said on Thursday, Aug 11 at 2:24 AM
Smalls... small dawg!!! my brother. my family.... how you will be missed.... breaks my m F_N heart.... I RODE THE ORG RAZOR YOU GAVE ME.. YESTERDAY, WITH BILL!!! BALD ASS DIAMONDS, IN YOUR SPIRIT!!! ONE LOVE MY BROTHER!!! yOU ARE AND WILL ALWAYS BE IN MY HEART.. I LOVE YOU SMALLLS.... ONE.!!!!!
72176262BlogCity-com said on Wednesday, Aug 10 at 10:22 PM
The most effective way tolower the number of accidents is probably to put up a few signs that show the number of people who lost their lives in this stretch of road in the previous year and signs to remind people not to use cell phones and other distractants. LOwer speed limit on certain curves will also help.
72172762nick k said on Wednesday, Aug 10 at 10:37 AM
where r the idiot troopers when u need them ? Driving through russian river and right around a curve there was 6 rvs pulled over and stopped in the middle of the road looking at bears in the river , these idiots were pulled over in the middle of the hiway running around wjth there cameras . Where r the troopers when u need them? They dont have a problem pulling u over for non working headlite but since these r toutrest they get a pass. Its all about the money not public safety.
72140232Driver said on Wednesday, Aug 10 at 1:00 AM
I love the Seward Highway if driver's would be more cautious instead of being the World's Best Race Car Driver's and Alaska's Best at Tailgating. I'm in front of you and I'm behind you and I know damn well that I should know you're in front of me and behind me and we all know our ABC'S of Safety Driving that Sewrd Highway is one of the nations worst case scenario with head-on collisions with no-barrs hold.
72108724Anne from Kenai said on Monday, Aug 8 at 10:15 AM
It's the drivers. As several people said, that road used to be narrow and twisty, and we had fewer accidents. The gawking tourists (and yes, some drivers from Anchorage too) put an incredible stress on the traffic. One slow vehicle can affect a whole section of road. Who knows if the vehicle in front of the van suddenly slowed down and the van had to swerve? I've had many near misses on the Seward/Sterling hiway, most of them between Anch and Grdwd.
72008042Anonymous 89 said on Sunday, Aug 7 at 6:23 AM
i know lewis personally and i would say that he is the most considerate and caring person and he is most certainly a careful driver. i do not believe it was his fault.
71954298Anon said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 3:42 PM
You can't cure stupid
71936708steve said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 2:15 PM
Doesn't anybody else see the other obvious problem with this situation? How come it takes troopers over nine hours to extract/rescue victims, investgate circumstnaces, clear debris, and re-open the highway? I understand a traffic mishap with fatalities require some extra attention, but not nine hours worth. I just got back from the lower 48 and a mishap with fatalities from the time it happens to re-opening the road was less than an hour. Either troopers need a whole lot more training or they're just
71933864Anonymous said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 1:59 PM
There should be a law against people that are from out of state driving that road.They have no consideration for people that have to use that road for work or shopping. In fact there should be an open season for shooting tourists.
71933303rkeytek said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 12:47 PM
Just finished reading the posts...Money? R eally? EVERY year the stretch along Potters Marsh is repaved....only strips of Seward Hwy have been touched in all the years I have driven from G'wd to Anch... Clearly the highway funds we all pay do not pay for repaving that will extend past the Anchorage Bowl tax base....if you live south of Potters Marsh, f*k you!? $800,000 to repave a mile of the Coastal Trail along the least used portion? Who is deciding where and how the funds are being allocated? Make those responsible, accountable!
71931398Phil Beckett said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 12:45 PM
Last time I was coming back from the Kenai and I watched a little white sports car force 3 cars to pull over by his insane passing.
71931346rkeytek said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 12:30 PM
Having lived in G'wd for quite some time, Jason will be sorely missed. This so called "Safety Corridor" is far from it. Put up Jersey barricades during the tourist season and remove them a first snow. Then, maybe, it could be called a safety corridor. How many more of our loved ones must lose their lives before something is done to correct this "Death Corridor"?
71930907tim said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 11:35 AM
and put your phone away!!!!!!!!!!!
71929326tim said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 11:32 AM
I'd rather get there late than not at all, concrete divider the whole way!
71929249Anna said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 10:50 AM
Concrete dividers needed, driver's education starting in the schools.
71927854Adam said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 9:48 AM
Concrete dividers...Problem solved and not expensive.
71925806Mary West said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 8:17 AM
Please we dont need 4 lanes! It will increse the amount of wrecks. People see 4 lanes and think speed, pass everything you can. Narrow the roads, take out the turnouts, and possibly people will stop driving the Seward Hwy
71922384koopaluk said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 8:10 AM
Slow, inconsiderate drivers, poorly designed pull offs and not enough of them. Check the black marks on the roadway at McHugh Creek. You hug the center line when turning left, not turn right before turning left like some people do. Stupidity kills!
7192212131yrs ago???? said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 8:10 AM
31yrs ago, most of the road going around the Arm was gravel, and for those who were here, driving from Anchorage to Cooperlanding was scary at times. Sharp corners, road was so narrow wasnt sure if you would get sideswiped by a semi. Guess what? Hardly ever a wreck. Once they widened the roads, took out the sharp corners, and allowed passing lanes, then came the wrecks. Not paying attention, not caring, not looking, driving to fricken slow, or to fast, always a driver is at fault. Stop blaming the stupid road, its people.
71922117Kevin S said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 6:35 AM
LH, you have a great point. The city can't fix it though. We don't even have enough money to effectively clear the streets of snow.
71918371Old Alaskan said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 6:22 AM
I first drove the Seward highway in the late 60's. It was a narrow twisting road that many people today would not have the skill needed to drive. It took 3.5 to 4 hours to get to Seward and up to 10 hours or more to Homer. The problem today ia as mentioned THE DRIVERS. Now you can get to Seward in 2 hours or less. It was stated enforce the laws INCLUDING the 5 vehicle law and put MINIMUM speed limits to curtail the tourists from driveing 40 MPH. For me one of the most dangerous areas is at the sheep viewing areas. It's the drivers that are now the problem not the road.
71917854Anonymous said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 6:02 AM
it's time to build a bridge to nikiski to avoid all the traffic congestion
71917022Anonymous said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 1:28 AM
Will how can you all sit here and blame Lewis for all this! Who knows what happen. The cops dont even know what happen. It is a accident and you can't say you have never went over the line everyone has. It is so sad someone lost their live and you know Lewis must like wishes it was him and not Jason. I feel so bad for all the familys, friends and loves. Keeping you in my prayers.
71910579Bubba said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 1:04 AM
The road is not dangerous, never has been. PEOPLE are dangerous.
71910274Fergie said on Saturday, Aug 6 at 12:09 AM
I was under the impression that headelights on was a law for that hiway as is the delay of 5 vehicles yet speeders are the only target for the troopers. 3 motorhomes bumper to bumper at 45 mph is the BIG danger.
71909719Donna said on Friday, Aug 5 at 10:56 PM
If you can't control your vehicle, to stay in your lane, then please don't drive. Some young man lost his life, others were injured, because of your failure to drive responsibly. If it were not for the people that helped others in the wrecked vehicles, there would not doubt have been more deaths. Thanks so much to those people.
71908819Donna said on Friday, Aug 5 at 10:52 PM
Why don't people just stay in their own lanes when driving? It is terrible some young man lost his life, others were injured, because someone couldn't control their vehicle to stay in their OWN lane. Is this someone that should be driving?
71908746driver said on Friday, Aug 5 at 10:05 PM
Have you all considered perhaps marking the tourist pulloffs for photos, so they don't just veer over at the last moment. Thats a suggestion that I see as a really big problem, I drive the Sterling, and Seward frequently for 300 miles a stretch and that makes it so dangerous, you never know when they're going to pull off last minute, or even cross the highway last minute. One improvement that definitely needs made
71908077Kevin said on Friday, Aug 5 at 10:03 PM
The only answer is to make the highway 4-lane all the way. Alaska can afford it & those whom cannot stand to wait behind slow traffic can pass safely,AADD? It can be frustrating if one is in a hurry. Another helpful hint; Ak.Troopers should be required to give as many tickets to those refusing to use turnouts as they do speeders. Word would get around quickly that slow trffic is just as dangerous and illegal as speeders. Where are the BRAINS in this continuous slaughter??
71908023LH said on Friday, Aug 5 at 9:29 PM
As tragic as this accident is, it highlights how hemmed-in and vulnerable Anchorage really is. The Seward Highway and the Glenn Highway are the only routes in or out of town. What would happen if Anchorage needed to be evacuated because of a natural disaster or a terrorist strike? One admittedly terrible - but not that unusual - car wreck tied up one of these roads for hours and hours. What would happen if both roads were blocked? Our city fathers really do need to think about this.
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