Alaska State Troopers have identified the drivers involved in a fatal three-vehicle wreck near Sutton Wednesday afternoon that temporarily closed the Glenn Highway, as crash victims seek two pets that ran away after the crash.
AST spokesperson Megan Peters said the crash occurred around 1 p.m. at Mile 64.5 of the Glenn.
Troopers say 34-year-old Michael Jenkins, of Sutton, died as a result of the crash when he was traveling south toward Palmer in a Mercury passenger car that crossed the center line, immediately striking one vehicle and then another that tried to avoid the collision.
41-year-old Lee Weikert, of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was driving a GMC pick-up truck northbound on the Glenn and was identified as the vehicle that Jenkins struck.
Troopers say 32-year-old Jeremiah Bass, of Sutton, was traveling behind Weikert in a Chevrolet van and tried to avoid the crash by moving into the southbound lane and collided with Jenkins driver’s door and pushed the car to the side of the roadway where both vehicles came to a stop on the shoulder of the southbound lane.
Weikert was taken to Mat-Su Regional Hospital for minor injuries, and Bass was treated on scene and released.
The highway was completely closed at the scene of the crash for about three hours Wednesday, with troopers opening one lane for travel in alternating directions at about 4 p.m.
Two animals were reported missing from the vehicles involved in the crash, including a dog in Jenkins’ car that troopers say ran away from the scene. Bear, a neutered male golden retriever, was reportedly found dead Friday in woods near the crash site.
Crash victims are still looking for a male cat that escaped from Weikert’s truck after it was struck. If you encounter Kodiak or "Kodi," a gray-and-white tiger-point Siamese mix with blue eyes and black fur tufts on his ears, please call or text Tracey Gray at 302-359-0673.
Editor's note: A more precise description of Kodiak, the missing cat, has been provided by Lee Weikert.
KTUU's Neil Torquiano contributed to the update of this story.
