Two perish in car accident

Alaska State Troopers, Mat-Su Central Fire/EMS and Mat-Su Dive and Rescue responded on July 29, 2022 at 4:39 pm to a single vehicle that entered the Matanuska River after leaving the south bound lanes of the Glenn Hwy at the Matanuska River Bridge just before the Knik River bridge. Numerous witnesses reported the vehicle, believed to be a Toyota Tacoma, and was believed to be occupied by three individuals when it went underwater. Mat-Su Dive and Rescue attempted numerous methods of recovery but have been unable to safely reach the vehicle. The river was moving too swiftly with no visibility for a diver to be safely placed into the water.

Investigation on scene has shown that the vehicle left the side of the roadway and traveled down the embankment and ultimately into the water, missing the cement barriers, cable barriers and steel barriers for the Bridge. Efforts to identify the individuals in the vehicle is ongoing. A drone was used to search the area and no bodies were located on the banks in the immediate area. Efforts for the recovery were suspended at 8:28 pm, and will resume on 7/30/22 at low tide.

UPDATE: On July 30, 2022 at 2:30 pm, recovery efforts began utilizing Matsu Borough Dive Rescue, Vulcan Towing, Elite Towing, Matanuska Towing and Recovery, and Terrasond. At 6:00 pm, the vehicle, a 1995 Toyota Tacoma, was removed from the Matanuska River. The vehicle was occupied by a male and female. While the original report stated the vehicle was occupied by three, there was no evidence to suggest that a third person was in the vehicle. Next of kin notification is pending and the identity of the two deceased occupants will be released once next of kin has been notified.