Two people were killed Wednesday morning after a multi-vehicle crash sent three cars into the water along Potter Marsh on the Seward Highway, shutting down the busy roadway for more than seven hours during the middle of summer travel season.
The Anchorage Police Department said the crash happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, between Rabbit Creek Rifle Range and Potter Valley Road. Three vehicles were involved, and all three ended up at least partially submerged in the marsh, according to police spokesperson Adam Nicely.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person was taken to a hospital with injuries described as not life-threatening. Nicely said, it was not immediately clear whether additional people were in the vehicles at the time of the crash.
Highway Closed for Hours as Crews Worked to Remove Vehicles
The closure stretched from mid-morning into late afternoon, with the Seward Highway fully shut down between Rabbit Creek and Potter Valley Road while investigators worked the scene.
Drivers were rerouted onto the Old Seward Highway, and officials warned of significant delays throughout the day.
By early afternoon, one vehicle had been pulled from the marsh, while two others remained partially submerged. Nicely said there was no immediate timeline for reopening traffic to normal flow, and that officials did not yet know whether any oil had leaked from the vehicles into the marsh.
Anchorage Fire Department spokesperson Megan Peters said two of the three vehicles ended up in the water, though not fully submerged.
Firefighters at the scene also helped guide tour buses through tight turns required by the detour, and fire officials credited bystanders who called 911 and tried to help before crews arrived.
Anchorage police said in an alert issued just after 4:30 p.m. that all lanes of the highway had reopened, bringing the closure to an end after more than seven hours.
Cause of the Crash Still Under Investigation
As of Wednesday afternoon, police had not released details on what caused the three vehicles to collide and end up in Potter Marsh. Nicely said, investigators were still working to piece together the circumstances surrounding the wreck.
Potter Marsh sits along a scenic but heavily trafficked stretch of the Seward Highway just south of Anchorage, an area popular with tourists and known for its wildlife viewing.
The crash disrupted travel through the corridor for much of the day, with cars backed up for miles as officials worked to clear the scene and search the water.
This remains an active investigation, and police have not released the names of those killed. Authorities have not said whether charges are expected as more information about the cause of the crash becomes available.
