Man dies when car hits front-end loader

SUTTON — An accident near Sutton claimed the life of a 26-year-old Wasilla man Monday when the car in which he was a passenger collided with a John Deere front-end loader, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers said Matthew James English, 25, formerly of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, died of injuries he suffered in the 2:30 p.m. accident at Mile 63.5 Glenn Hwy.

English was apparently asleep in a 1985 Subaru station wagon driven by Kenneth Lucas, 25, of Wasilla, when the car struck the bucket of the front-end loader, which was plowing a driveway.

According to troopers, the front-end loader, driven by Ronald Pearson, 44, of Sutton, had pulled into the driveway as southbound traffic approached. A Chevrolet Suburban moved into the northbound lane as it was passing the front-end loader, troopers said.

Lucas, who was behind the Suburban, passed the vehicle in the southbound lane, clipping the bucket of the heavy machinery on the passenger side of his Subaru.

Troopers reported English was not wearing a seat belt when the impact occurred. Neither Lucas nor Pearson were injured in the accident.

An investigation is continuing, troopers said.