Slippery Alaska Highway sends pickup into ditch near Mile 1419

A rollover on the Alaska Highway Sunday morning left a pickup truck on its roof but both occupants uninjured, serving as a reminder of how quickly driving conditions can change in the Interior as fall and winter weather collide.

A father and son were traveling along the highway Sunday morning, towing a trailer carrying an ATV. Both were experienced drivers and aware of the potential for icy patches, so they adjusted their speed to match the road conditions. However, even cautious drivers can encounter unexpected hazards.

Snowfall overnight had left a slick sheen on the highway. At Mile 1419, the pickup began to slide.

The men tried to ride out the slide for approximately 20 to 30 feet, but the trailer swung around, and the truck slid toward the ditch, where it landed on its roof. During the rollover, the trailer detached, and the safety chains snapped. Neither the trailer nor the ATV sustained damage.             The father and son were trapped inside the cab until the son was able to kick out the passenger-side window and escape.

Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department, Delta Junction Fire Department, Alaska State Troopers, and Big Delta Rescue responded to the scene at approximately 9:15 a.m.                      Big Delta Rescue personnel evaluated both occupants and determined that neither had sustained injuries. Cable Guy Towing Service recovered the pickup from the ditch.

Similar weather conditions are expected to continue, with snow alternating with daytime temperatures above freezing. The forecast also calls for the possibility of rain mixed with snow Sunday, underscoring the need for drivers to remain alert as road conditions fluctuate.

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