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Occupants of a Honda Accord watch as a tow truck gets ready to haul away the damaged vehicle (background) Friday after it was hit by a truck (foreground). The accident occured on the Old Glenn Highway at Fish Hatchery Road. Anchorage police said no one was seriously injured. The cause of the accident is under investigation.
STAR PHOTO BY GREG DART
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Locals respond to 18-car pileup
Several emergency response agencies were dispatched to the scene of an 18-vehicle accident Sunday on the Glenn Highway.
The accident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. in the northbound lanes of the Knik River Bridge. According to Alaska State Trooper reports, a pickup truck pulling a trailer lost control on the ice-covered bridge and spun sideways. The other vehicles were not able to stop and began crashing into each other. Other accidents occurred in the southbound lanes following the initial accident.
Four people were transported to Valley Hospital. None of the injuries appeared life threatening, officials said. The highway was closed for about an hour and a half. Troopers believe icy conditions and poor visibility due to fog were factors in the accident. Responding agencies included the Palmer, Wasilla and Anchorage police departments, the Palmer, Mat-Su and Chugiak volunteer fire departments and the troopers.
Red Ribbon activities slated at CHS
Red Ribbon Week begins Monday, and Chugiak High School has a slate of activities scheduled.
Congress established Red Ribbon Week in 1988 to promote a drug-free lifestyle. Chugiak will have activities mainly during its lunch periods, said teacher Kathy Vik.
Students who pledge to be free of alcohol and other drugs will be given a "Don't monkey with drugs" wristband Monday to wear throughout the week. On Tuesday, students will tie red ribbons on vehicles at Carrs supermarket in Eagle River from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday will be a wheel of danger trivia contest, Thursday is "Wear Red Day" and Friday the Anchorage Police Department will set up an obstacle course for students to drive a go-cart through while wearing "drug goggles," designed to impair vision. Call 742-3239 for more information.
Chugiak holds casualty exercise
The Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department held a mass casualty incident exercise last week at Lattimer Station on the Old Glenn Highway. Spokesman Jeff Hartley said the exercise simulated a large-scale bus accident and was used to help train responders to assess the needs of a large number of patients and get them the care they needed quickly.
Hartley said the exercise was good timing in light of the multi-vehicle accident the department responded to on the Glenn Highway Knik River Bridge Sunday. The department hopes to make the training, which was attended by Anchorage School District transportation officials, an annual event.
Reach the reporter at greg.dart@alaskastar.com.
