Warm weather, crashes coincide on area roads

WASILLA — A Sutton man was killed Tuesday when his motorcycle was rear-ended on the Glenn Highway.

According to Megan Peters, spokeswoman for the Alaska State Troopers, Thomas Schill, 48, of Sutton, was northbound near Mile 59, slowing to make a left on his black 2003 Victory motorcycle.

As he slowed, Michael Carney, 60, of Sutton, rear-ended him driving a Ford pickup.

Schill was not wearing a helmet, Peters said, and was pronounced dead on scene.

The collision is just the latest in a string of accidents involving smaller vehicles in the Valley.

On Tuesday, troopers report, a 12-year-old boy on an ATV crossing the Parks Highway near Lamont Way collided with a 2002 Chevrolet pickup driven by Marilyn Johnson, 69, of Anchorage.

The boy was not wearing a helmet and was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with what troopers described as minor injuries. He was also ticketed for not yielding.

On Saturday there was yet another accident involving a teenager crossing the Parks Highway, this time on a motorcycle. A 14-year-old Willow boy tried to cross the highway near Hidden Hills Drive.

The boy’s motorcycle collided with a northbound Volkswagen. The other driver, Chad Saunders, 36, of Anchorage, was unhurt in the crash.

The teen, however, rolled up onto the car’s windshield, shattering it, and continued over the vehicle, landing 10 feet away.

Troopers say he was wearing leather clothing and a helmet and his injuries — to his back and ankle — were not life threatening. He was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. He was ticketed for not exercising due care.

Peters said that, as with most changes of season, summertime does seem to bring out more motorcyclists and ATV riders.

Just as when the snow flies and snowmachiners start hitting the trails, “When summertime comes people are getting out the dirt bikes or getting out the four-wheelers,” Peters said.

She urged caution when driving across, beside or on a roadway. She also said folks should wear helmets, even though the law doesn’t require it for drivers.

“You always want to make sure that you are taking every precaution possible to protect yourself, if not for your own sake then for your family’s sake,” she said.

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