Arizona man dies in Anchorage traffic accident

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- An Arizona man died Friday night from injuries suffered in an afternoon traffic accident on the Old Seward Highway.

Ralph Anderson, 83, was pronounced dead at about 7 p.m.

His wife, Alice Anderson, 77, was critically injured. She apparently suffered a punctured lung and broken ribs, according to Anchorage police.

The two were passengers in a Chevrolet Lumina sedan driving east at about 2 p.m. on 100th Avenue.

The driver, Etta Schandelmeier, 77, stopped at a stop sign and attempted to cross five lanes of traffic. As the car crossed northbound lanes, it was struck on the passenger side by a pickup truck driven by Ronald Cristensen, 57.

Ralph Anderson was riding in the back seat of the Lumina. His wife was in the front seat.

Police said Schandelmeier and Cristensen suffered minor injuries.