Collision kills Minnesota man

PALMER -- A 46-year-old Minnesota man died Wednesday in a crash on the Glenn Highway when his truck struck another vehicle, rolled over and caught fire, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Seventeen-year-old Bobbi Spain of Willow was heading south on the Glenn Highway, traveling slower than the 65-mph posted speed limit in a white 1996 Chevrolet pickup truck, when she attempted to make an illegal U-turn, troopers said. She then switched into the left lane and tried to turn left onto an emergency-vehicle-only turnaround in the divided highway. Her pickup clipped the right rear of a passing 1999 GMC truck in which Ronald Melbostad was riding, causing it to roll over and catch fire.

Melbostad sustained massive trauma during the collision and died at the scene, according to troopers.

The pickup was driven by Melbostad's nephew, Jeffrey Melbostad, 22, of Wasilla. Ronald Melbostad and another passenger, 20-year-old Christine Hansen of Wasilla, were not wearing seat belts and were thrown from the vehicle when it rolled over, troopers said.

Jeffrey Melbostad and Hansen were transported to Valley Hospital to be treated for injuries, according to troopers. Hospital officials said Hansen was admitted Wednesday evening and was in stable condition as of Thursday morning. A nursing supervisor said Melbostad was not admitted.

Spain, who reported wearing a seat belt, sustained no injuries in the crash, which occurred at 12:50 p.m. at Mile 33.5 near the Knik River bridge.

The incident backed up traffic along the Glenn Highway for almost a mile, causing another collision in the southbound lanes a half mile from the first crash site, troopers said.

Wasilla resident ValDora Brennan, 72, reportedly rear-ended a 1999 Chevy pickup truck driven by James Kurth, 51, of Eagle River, at Mile 33 Glenn Hwy. According to troopers, Kurth had stopped for traffic that had backed up. Both drivers were wearing seat belts and sustained minor injuries, troopers said. Brennan was transported to Valley Hospital to be checked out and was issued a citation for failure to exercise due care to avoid a collision.