Two Big Lake Residents Severely Injured in Parks Highway Crash

Two Big Lake residents were ejected from a sport-utility vehicle on the Parks Highway and suffered severe injuries when it skidded into a ditch Tuesday afternoon, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers say the SUV, driven by 20-year-old Holly Sturgeon, was headed south near Mile 49.5 of the Parks just after 1 p.m. when Sturgeon lost control in heavy snow.

“The SUV skidded off the roadway and impacted with the snow piled in the ditch,” troopers wrote in a Wednesday dispatch on the crash. “The SUV vaulted approximately 25 yards through the air before coming to rest in a field on its driver's side.”

Neither Sturgeon nor passenger James Attaway, 30, were wearing seat belts. After being ejected from the vehicle, the two were evacuated to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center; Sturgeon was admitted there, while Attaway required emergency surgery and was flown by air ambulance to Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.

Troopers are investigating the crash, but say drugs or alcohol do not appear to be factors.