Fairbanks , AK : Two people died in a head-on collision at Highway on Monday morning , December 22nd 2014

Two people died in a head-on collision at 235.5 Mile Parks Highway on Monday morning, National Park Service spokeswoman Kathleen Kelly said.

Both vehicles were burning and “fully engulfed” when park service personnel arrived on scene, Kelly said. A fire truck and ambulance from Tri-Valley Volunteer Fire Department in Healy extinguished the fires with assistance from McKinley Village Volunteer Fire station.

Authorities initially had trouble determining how many people were involved in the crash because the vehicles were badly burned. Debris at the crash site contained children’s items such as stuffed animals and a diaper bag, causing emergency personnel to fear the worst.

“It’s weird when this is the good news, but it was just the two drivers,” Kelly said.

It is unknown at this time what caused the collision between the northbound green Chevy pickup and the southbound white Mercury Mountaineer. The highway in that area was reported to be dry and clear before the accident, Kelly said.

An Alaska State Troopers investigative unit arrived at 1:30 Monday afternoon to assist the park service in the investigation. The accident occurred just south of the entrance to Denali National Park and the park service has jurisdiction in that area. Four park rangers are working on the case, Kelly said.

Investigators have contacted the relatives of the registered owners of the vehicles, but a positive identification of the bodies must be made by the state medical examiner, Kelly said.

The accident closed one lane of the highway Monday morning and travelers were advised to expect delays. It was expected both lanes would be closed periodically during the trooper investigation.


source :
Two dead in fiery Parks Highway collision