Park Service identifies Wasilla man killed in Denali crash

DENALI NATIONAL PARK — Authorities Monday identified two men killed in a fiery head-on crash near Mile 236, George Parks Highway Dec. 22, 2014.

Patrick Dafoe, 28, of Wasilla was driving a Mercury Mountaineer and Antril Sanguinetti, 51, of Anchorage was behind the wheel of the Chevy Silverado when the vehicles collided head-on that morning, according to a National Park Service press release.

Because that section of the highway traverses federal land, National Park Services officials are serving as primary investigators of the collision.

Public disclosure of the drivers’ identities had been awaiting positive confirmation from the state medical examiner’s office, including DNA evidence, according to ranger Kathleen Kelly.

However, after contacting the families of both drivers, park rangers released the information ahead of a positive identification. Dafoe had already been widely identified to several Anchorage-area outlets by his widow, La Donna Dafoe, who was not available for comment Monday afternoon.

Her husband had been picking up his great-grandfather from Fairbanks for the holidays when the wreck occurred, according to a brief description posted on a GoFundMe page established to collect donations for his family. A donation account also has been established at the Matanuska Valley Credit Union under the title “DaFoe Family Fund” and account No. 148193, according to the page.

“La Donna and their children, while reeling from the tragedy, extend their heartfelt thanks to the community for the outpouring of help, prayers and kind words,” the description says.

Donate online at bit.ly/1wQLZRL.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.