Nine injured in three-car collision

WASILLA — A three-car accident at the corner of Bogard and Engstrom roads Friday afternoon sent five adults and four children to the hospital.

The accident happened about 1:30 p.m. and closed both lanes of Bogard.

The cars involved in the collision were two smaller white sedans and a Subaru Outback.

In a press release, Alaska State Troopers report the Outback, driven by Kristina Tornqvist, 59, of Wasilla, rear-ended one of the sedans, a white 2007 Chevy Cobalt driven by Vanessa Ensminger, 47, of Wasilla.

Troopers say the Subaru pushed the eastbound Cobalt into the westbound lane, where it smashed head-on into the other white sedan, a 1992 Mazda Protégé driven by Anna Stewart, 20, of Palmer.

The Chevy Cobalt and a Mazda Protege got the worst of it. Both were little more than masses of crumpled metal when responders arrived. The Subaru didn’t escape unharmed; it’s mangled bumper was detached and lying in the road.

Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele said two patients were trapped in each of the cars. Rescue crews with power saws and Jaws of Life extraction equipment removed doors and a roof to free the trapped motorists.

Troopers say Stewart and Ensminger each had three passengers and that everyone in all three vehicles was hospitalized.

Steele hazarded a guess that the oldest child patient was 5 years old, though he wasn’t entirely sure.

Although it took four ambulances to get everyone to the hospital, Steele said he didn’t see any injuries that appeared to be life-threatening.

Asked if it was a high- or low-speed wreck, Steele said he wasn’t sure, but pointed to skid marks in the eastbound lane of Bogard Road.

“At least on this one brakes were used,” he said, noting that a recent, gruesome crash he responded to had no such skid marks.

Troopers say all nine patients were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, treated for minor injuries and released.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.