The Seward Highway at mile 91.5 was closed for approximately 6 hours between 7 pm Thursday and 1 am on Friday following a fatal accident there trooper dispatch reported.

At approximately 7:07 on Thursday, troopers observed a motorcycle traveling through the Safety Corridor at mile 93 of the Seward Highway and attempted a traffic stop. The motorcycle failed to stop for the pursuing officer and instead took to the road shoulder and continued southbound between the guardrail and other southbound traffic. Traffic was reported to be heavy at the time.

The motorcycle traveled a mile and a half in this manner, until the driver, later identified as 58-year-old Anchorage man, Michael Kemper, rear-ended a southbound Chevy Suburban who had puled to the shoulder to make way for the trooper vehicle.

After the impact, Kemper and his motorcycle, a 2002 Yamaha XV1700PC, were thrown into the southbound lane directly in front of the pursuing patrol car giving chase., and was impacted again by the trooper vehicle.

Kemper was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the office of the State Medical Examiner responded to the scene and took possession of Kemper’s remains for autopsy.

Kemper’s next of kin were notified of his death.

Because the incident was not considered one of use of force, the name of the trooper who impacted Kemper and his bike, he was identified as 13-year veteran, Trooper Jeffery F. Simpson.

The investigation into the crash is continuing. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Sgt. Gorn of the Alaska State Troopers at 373-8300.

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