The Old Richardson Highway near Sky Ranch Road was the scene of a very serious accident that took the life of one on Tuesday morning.

Alaska State Troopers were notified of a head-on collision between two vehicles at 7:15 am on July 29th.

The Department of Transportation, who was nearby, also went to the scene to assist in traffic control during the incident  while emergency personnel carried out their response as well as during the investigation.

The investigation at the scene determined that 37-year-old Eddie Ahyakak of Fairbanks was travelling westbound when he crossed over the centerline in his 2008 Ford F350. When he did so, he encountered a Chevy Suburban heading eastbound and crashed headlong into that vehicle.

The impact caused the Suburban to become engulfed in flames. The driver of the Suburban has been tentatively identified as 59-year-old Ernest Ford of North Pole. Ford was declared deceased at the scene.

Ahyakak was transported to the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital with serious injuries.

The Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol took over the responsibility for the investigation of the accident and is continuing its investigation.

The next of kin for both drivers was notified of the incident.

  accident, Alaska, ernest ford, fatality, investigation, old richardson highway, troopers