Motorist killed on Thursday morning snowy roads

The first accumulation of snow this season sent vehicles sliding off central Kenai Peninsula roads Thursday morning leaving one man dead east of Sterling.

Central Emergency Services medics and Alaska State Troopers responded to a report that a 2003 Ford Escape skidded off the road and crashed into several trees near Mile 74.5 of the Sterling Highway at about 11:20 a.m.

The driver, Ellison George Murray, 67, of Anchorage, was found dead. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to trooper spokesperson Tim DeSpain.

Earlier Thursday, a Sterling woman and two juveniles were taken to Central Peninsula General Hospital after the red 1996 Dodge pickup they were in slid off the snow-covered Sterling Highway at Mile 89.5 and rolled over into the ditch.

Rhonda Johnson, 37, one boy and one girl were treated for minor injuries at the hospital and released, according to Trooper Mike Guymon.

Westbound rush hour traffic was stopped for a short time at about 8:30 a.m. while a flatbed tow truck retrieved the Dodge from the side of the road.

Another rollover accident, which was not weather-related, occurred just before 10 p.m. Wednesday in Kenai.

Kenai police responded to Mile 12.5 of the Kenai Spur Highway for the report of a single vehicle rollover.

Casey Howard, 28, of Kenai, was found partially ejected from the vehicle and was taken by ambulance to CPGH for treatment of injuries. Howard was listed in fair condition on Thursday afternoon, according to a hospital spokesperson.

Police Lt. Kim Wannamaker said an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.