Crash kills Wasilla woman

WASILLA -- A 48-year-old Wasilla resident died Tuesday of injuries suffered in a head-on collision on the Parks Highway near Wasilla Lake.

Wasilla police said a 1989 Jeep Cherokee driven by Beate Gregory, 39, of Wasilla, crossed the center line about 11 a.m. and struck a 2003 Chevrolet driven by Kerry McEvoy. McEvoy was transported by LifeGuard helicopter to Providence Alaska Medical Center, where she died at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Gregory was transported to Valley Hospital by Wasilla Ambulance for treatment of undisclosed injuries.

Central Mat-Su Fire Department Chief Jack Krill Jr. said emergency personnel used the Jaws of Life to free McEvoy from "very heavy entrapment." The vehicle's roof and two doors were removed, and responders lifted the dashboard away from McEvoy, who was semi-conscious at the time, Krill said.

"It took us 40 minutes to cut her away because the car was so collapsed," he said. Jaws of Life also were needed to extricate Gregory.

Krill said ambulances from Palmer and Central fire departments also responded to the emergency, which occurred at the same time as other less-serious incidents.

"It was a period of day when we had about six ambulances running around the borough," he said.