Wasilla man dies in vehicle accident

WASILLA — A man died Sunday evening after his vehicle went off Bogard Road and rolled several times.

N. Tait Drive and a portion of Bogard Road near Tait were closed to traffic for some time Sunday afternoon and evening while Alaska State Troopers and the State Medical Examiner responded.

Troopers received a call about 4:37 p.m. of a van that had driven off Bogard Road and into the trees near N. Tait Drive, according to trooper spokesperson Megan Peters.

Peters said Rocke McFarland, 69, of Wasilla was westbound on Bogard Road when the red 1999 Mercury Villager minivan he was driving left the road and rolled several times before colliding with some trees and eventually coming to a rest about 30 feet off the road.

McFarland was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, Peters said. The van rolled several times and landed on top of him, she said.

Medics pronounced McFarland dead at the scene around 5 p.m.

The road re-opened around 8:20 p.m., Sunday.

Intern Tim Rockey contributed to this story.