Two-car crash slows Palmer-Wasilla traffic

UPDATE (Friday, Oct. 10): Troopers said on Friday that Shannon Simmons, 46, of Palmer, was issued a citation for running a red light, which they said led to Thursday's accident.

ORIGINAL STORY:

WASILLA — A two-car crash on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway at its intersection with the Seward Meridian Parkway slowed traffic on the busy east-west road on Wednesday afternoon.

Several witnesses said they saw a black Nissan Juke run a red light at the intersection, striking a blue four-door Hyundai in the driver’s side.

Wasilla’s Ben Hopper was driving a work truck for MEA when he saw the crash.

“He just blew right through,” Hopper said of the male driver of the Nissan.

Another witness, Wasilla’s Dave Bryant, said he saw the same thing. Bryant said the driver of the Hyundai was waiting to make a left turn toward Wasilla from the northbound lanes of Seward Meridian when the Nissan plowed into her.

“We had the green light for like 10 seconds,” he said.

Hopper parked his work truck behind the Nissan, which traveled about 100 yards past the collision and stopped in the median. He first checked on the driver of the black car and found the man was fine. Then we went to the Hyundai, where he said the woman was complaining of an arm injury.

“She was pretty shaken up,” he said.

The woman's father called the Frontiersman later in the day to report that she did not need to be taken to the hospital.

Hopper helped direct traffic until help arrived — which didn’t take long since the accident occurred directly in front of Central Mat-Su Fire Department Station 65.

Alaska State Troopers were investigating the crash and said any citations would be announced via the department’s public safety dispatches later in the day.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated the female driver of the Hyundai was taken to the hospital; she declined further medical attention at the scene after getting checked out by paramedics.

This is a developing story; check back for updates.