Palmer man killed in Parks Highway head-on

CANTWELL — Two men were killed at Mile 186.6, Parks Highway at about 4 p.m., Sunday when the trucks they were driving collided, nearly head-on.

Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Beth Ipsen said David A. Kincaid, 57, of Palmer and Roy K. Ponder, 57, of Fairbanks were declared deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel. Next of kin have been notified, she said.

She said travel on the Parks was impacted for several hours following the accident while troopers investigated and cleared scene. One lane reopened around 8 p.m. and the other lane remained closed until 10 p.m.

Ipsen said two female passengers in the vehicles sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Traveling in Kincaid’s vehicle was his 24-year-old daughter Molly M. Kincaid who was transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Palmer via Trapper Creek ambulance, Ipsen said.

Traveling in the other vehicle was Ponder's wife, Teresa A. Ponder, 55, of Fairbanks, who was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital via Cantwell ambulance, she said.

According to troopers’ initial investigation, Ipsen said Ponder was northbound driving a 2008 Ford F450 truck when it collided nearly head-on with a southbound 2007 Ford 550 truck driven by Kincaid.

Ipsen said Ponder's vehicle had a trailer in tow with snowmachines on the trailer. Kincaid's vehicle had a trailer in tow with a Ford F150 on the trailer.

Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash, she said. However, driving conditions may have contributed.

“The temperature was 20 to 30 with snow and more snow coming down,” Ipsen said. “As you can imagine, the roads were slick.”

Contact managing editor Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.