Truck, occupants recovered from Matanuska River

Over the weekend, a water rescue turned into a grim recovery as the Alaska State Troopers, Mat-Su Central Fire and EMS and Mat-Su Dive and Rescue responded to a single vehicle that entered the Matanuska River after witnessed notified authorities that a vehicle go off the Glenn Highway at the Matanuska River Bridge, just before the Knik River Bridge.

The vehicle, a 1995 Toyota Tacoma, was recovered July 30 with two occupants inside. Alaska State Troopers identified the deceased as Clayton McManis, 31, and Kaitlin Ogden, 26. Both were from Chugiak.

The highway was shut down while rescue efforts were made, including allowing divers to enter the river. Mat-Su Dive and Rescue attempted numerous methods of recovery but efforts were hampered by the swift moving currents of the river and no visibility in the water. A drone was also used to search the area on the banks in the immediate area.

During the initial investigation, numerous witnesses reported the vehicle, which at first was believed to be occupied by three individuals when it went underwater. Troopers said that, “there was no evidence to suggest that a third person was in the vehicle.”

On-scene investigation appears to show that around 4:30 p.m. July 29, the vehicle left the side of the roadway and traveled down the embankment and ultimately into the water, missing the cement barriers, cable barriers and steel barriers for the bridge.