A Soldotna bicycle rider was killed in a collision at mile 91.5 of the Sterling Highway on Thursday afternoon, troopers reported.

According to the trooper dispatch, they “received a report of a crash involving a truck and bicyclist near milepost 91.5 of the Sterling Highway” at 4:10 pm on Thursday. Troopers and Central Emergency Services responded to the scene south of Soldotna, and 50-year-old Soldotna resident, Vanessa Wilkes, was declared deceased at the scene.

The trooper investigation revealed that Wilkes was riding beside the highway and was struck by a commercial Ford F-350 driven by 40-year-old Charles Kuntz of Nikiski.

The highway was closed for approximately two hours as troopers conducted their investigation, and traffic was diverted to an ATV trail adjacent to the highway. The highway was re-opened at 6 pm.

The State Medical Examiner’s office requested Wilke’s remains for autopsy, and next of kin were notified.

Troopers say that the investigation into Wilke’s death is continuing.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

  accident, Alaska, bicyclist, fatality, soldotna, sterling highway, vanessa wilkes