How Did 2 People Die in a Head-On Crash on the Parks Highway Near Trapper Creek, Alaska?

On Monday morning, 19 October 2026, a head-on collision at mile 115 of the Parks Highway near Trapper Creek, Alaska, killed a Fairbanks couple and left their toddler injured, the Alaska State Troopers said.

What happened

At about 9:06 am, troopers received a report of a head-on collision in front of the Three Bears gas station in Trapper Creek. According to the troopers' dispatch report (AK26103883), a black 2018 Subaru Forester driven south by 38-year-old Fairbanks resident Sasha Hart crossed the centre line and collided head-on with a white 2008 Ford F-250 travelling north.

Hart and her husband, 41-year-old Fairbanks resident David Hart, were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

Who survived

The couple's toddler was in the vehicle and survived with injuries the troopers described as non-life-threatening. The child was transported to an Anchorage hospital, where next of kin were notified and travelled to meet the child.

How was traffic affected

The collision closed the Parks Highway at Mile 115 for about five hours. Traffic was able to detour around the scene through the Three Bears parking lot, causing only minor delays, troopers said.

What is the investigation status

The Alaska State Troopers said the preliminary investigation showed the Subaru crossed the centre line; the investigation is ongoing. It was not immediately clear what role, if any, weather played in the crash. The Susitna Valley, which includes the Trapper Creek area, received snow overnight into Monday, and light snow and mist were reported near Talkeetna that morning, the Anchorage Daily News reported, citing the National Weather Service.

Key facts

• Location: Parks Highway, mile 115, Trapper Creek, Alaska
• Date and time: 19 October 2026, about 9:06 am
• Killed: Sasha Hart, 38, and David Hart, 41, both of Fairbanks
• Injured: their toddler, with non-life-threatening injuries
• Vehicles: black 2018 Subaru Forester; white 2008 Ford F-250
• Road closure: about five hours at Mile 115
• Sources: Alaska State Troopers dispatch AK26103883; Anchorage Daily News

Frequently asked questions

Where did the crash happen?

At mile 115 of the Parks Highway in Trapper Creek, Alaska, in front of the Three Bears gas station.

When did the crash happen?

On the morning of Monday, 19 October 2026, at about 9:06 am.

Who died in the crash?

Sasha Hart, 38, and her husband David Hart, 41, both residents of Fairbanks, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Did anyone survive the crash?

Yes. The couple's toddler survived with injuries described by troopers as non-life-threatening and was taken to an Anchorage hospital.

What caused the crash?

According to the Alaska State Troopers' preliminary investigation, the southbound Subaru Forester crossed the centre line and struck the northbound pickup head-on. The investigation is ongoing.