Parks Highway crash in Houston kills Palmer boy, 11

Editor’s note: This story has been updated from its original version

HOUSTON — A Palmer boy has died in a crash on the Parks Highway.

Shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Alaska State Troopers say a two-vehicle collision near Mile 53 of the Parks Highway claimed the life of 11-year-old Noah Meyer.

Troopers say 57-year-old Mark Meyer of Palmer was driving an SUV southbound on the Parks with three juvenile passengers. Near the intersection of the Parks and Hawk Lane in Houston, 20-year-old Kole Denevan of Wasilla crossed the center-line of the highway into the southbound lane, according to Troopers. Meyer and Denevan both tried to avoid a crash, but the two vehicles collided.

Troopers say Noah Meyer was fatally injured and thrown from the SUV. His body was taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Multiple people from both vehicles were taken to the hospital with injuries Troopers say did not appear to be life threatening.

Noah Meyer is believed to be a student at Wasilla Lake Christian School, which canceled classes on Thursday.

School principal Cheralea Purcell sent out the following information to parents Wednesday night:

“We don't have much information to share yet. There were 3 students and 1 chaperone injured in a vehicle accident this afternoon on the Parks Hwy. With heavy hearts, we have to report that one of the students did not survive the accident. One of the other students and the chaperone were transported to Mat-Su Regional, and one student was taken to Providence. We are asking everyone to lift up your prayers for the family who have suffered this great loss, and for God's healing, mercy, grace, and guidance for all of the injured, their families, and the doctors. After prayerful consideration, we are cancelling school for tomorrow. To support a state of normalcy and healing together, we will have school on Friday except for sixth grade, and are working to have a grief counselor on-site both days for students and families. We'll send out more information once the details have been finalized.”

Phillip Manning of ktna.org contributed to this report.