A Wasilla woman died Wednesday evening in a Knik-Goose Bay Road collision that also hurt all three other people involved, according to local police.
A Wasilla Police Department statement said that Jeanette Pitchford, 49, was traveling with her husband, Ray Pitchford, and their son Evan Pitchford. Police responded to the two-vehicle crash, south of Fern Street, shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.
"The investigation showed a 2008 Mazda, driven by Ray Pitchford, traveling southbound, had lost control, spinning into the northbound lane of travel, and was struck by a 2015 GMC Yukon driven by Chad Duguid," police wrote. "Mat-Su Borough rescue had to extricate (the Pitchfords) from their vehicle."
Ken Barkley, deputy director of emergency services for the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, said two other vehicles ended up in nearby ditches as their drivers tried to avoid the wreck.
"From my understanding, it was a T-bone accident in the initial (collision), and then the other two ditched," Barkley said.
Police said medics took Jeanette and Ray Pitchford, as well as Duguid, to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Jeanette Pitchford was pronounced dead at the hospital, and Duguid was released after treatment for minor injuries. Evan Pitchford was taken to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage.
Barkley said Mat-Su responders encountered icy roads at Wednesday's crash site, as well as other collisions they have responded to during this week's cold snap. He urged drivers to take the weather into account when they're behind the wheel.
"The roads are slick and you have to drive to the road condition," Barkley said.
The collision remains under investigation by police.