Two die in Parks Highway collision

WASILLA — Two people are dead after a gruesome car crash on the Parks Highway Monday morning.

According to an Alaska State Trooper press statement, reports of the accident came in at 9:10 a.m. The accident was on the stretch of highway in front of the Windbreak Hotel.

Troopers say Yolanda Haggard, 54, of Chugiak, crossed the center line driving a 2006 Chevy Pacifica and smashed head-on into a 2004 Chevy Tahoe driven by Angela Johnson, 42, of Wasilla. Troopers say both drivers were wearing their seatbelts. Haggard died on scene. Johnson was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center and later died.

Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said the road was opened again about 2 p.m.

On scene Monday morning, Capt. Hans Brinke with the troopers’ Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol couldn’t say why Haggard crossed the line or where exactly she was on the road when she crossed; if it was in the center turn lane or in the northbound traffic lanes.

With the highway closed, a slow-moving line of traffic snaked around the accident scene down the highway’s frontage roads.

Though the accident was in Wasilla Police Department jurisdiction, the investigation was passed to Brinke’s patrol unit, which is the trooper division with expertise in accident scene investigation.

Still, a handful of Wasilla police officers were on scene to lend a hand. Sgt. Kelly Swihart described the wreck as “horrific.”

About 30 minutes into the accident response, an officer with the Mat-Su Borough’s department of Animal Care and Regulation arrived on scene.

Central Mat-Su Fire Chief James Steele said there were two dogs inside the Pacifica. With animal control on scene, firefighters began cutting away at the vehicle’s rear doors to free the two dogs.

At least one — a fluffy white lapdog — seemed to be in good health and good spirits, considering the circumstances. Both were taken to the borough’s animal shelter.

“They just went home with the owner a few minutes ago,” Animal Care and Regulation Chief Bob Haskell said at about 3:45 p.m. Monday. “One of them was in a little bit worse condition than the other, but they were both alive.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.