Update: Alaska State Troopers have identified the drivers in a Sunday vehicle crash on the Parks Highway that has left a woman in critical condition.
Troopers said 55-year-old Leeann Rodgers, of Houston, crossed the center line Sunday afternoon and collided with 75-year-old Ronald Palmer, of Wasilla, near mile 66 of the Parks Highway.
Rodgers was taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries and was transferred to an Anchorage hospital where she was to be in critical condition Monday morning.
Troopers said “either a medical emergency or distracted driving may be the cause of the collision,” and were continuing its investigation.
Palmer suffered minor injuries and was treated and released. He tried to avoid the crash by striking a guardrail, according to a troopers dispatch posted Monday morning.
Original: A head-on collision near Mile 66 of the Parks Highway sent two drivers to the hospital Sunday evening, according to Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen. The crash happened at 4:35 p.m., closing the highway in both directions for hours.
Ipsen said a woman driving northbound in a Toyota Camry crossed the center line and hit a Volkswagen Golf head-on, injuring the male driver. Both drivers were taken to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for treatment. Ipsen said the woman was seriously injured but the extent of the man's injuries are unknown at this time.
The highway opened back up at 7 p.m.
Editor's Note: KTUU's Neil Torquiano contributed to the Monday morning update of this story.
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