Accident claims Fairbanks man

TRAPPER CREEK — Heavy snow and poor driving conditions apparently combined to cause a fatal accident that claimed the life of a Fairbanks man Thursday on the northern reaches of the Parks Highway.

According to Alaska State Troopers, Climie Douglas, 29, was riding in a southbound 2007 Ford 500 driven by Blessing Wallace, 22, also of Fairbanks.

Troopers report that shortly before 9:30 p.m., Wallace lost control going around a right-hand curve and entered the northbound lane. That’s where the Ford hit head-on a 2004 Ford commercial utility vehicle driven by Charles L. Patterson, 37, of Anchorage.

Wallace and Douglas were both entrapped in the totaled sedan and rescue crews had to work to extracate them, troopers report. Douglas was loaded in an ambulance but pronounced dead before he arrived at the hospital. Wallace was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage with serious injuries.

Peterson and a passenger were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with minor injuries, troopers report. Their utility vehicle sustained extensive damage.

Troopers report that everyone was wearing seat belts and that heavy snow in the area was a factor in the wreck.