A Monday afternoon collision on the Richardson Highway took the lives of two 17-year-old teens it was reported by troopers on Tuesday.

Alaska State Troopers received a report of a two-vehicle collision at mile 210 of the Richardson Highway. Along with Alaska Wildlife Troopers, the Fort Greely Fire Department, the Rural Deltana Fire Department and Delta Medical Transport, the troopers responded to the scene.

One of the vehicles, a 2003 GMC Yukon was found overturned and submerged in Phelan Creek, next to the Richardson Highway. The vehicle was pulled from the vehicle, and the two occupants, identified as Carmella Flynn and Theresa Runfola, both of Fairbanks and both aged 17 were administered CPR and transported for treatment. The life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 2011 Ford F350, 37-year-old Fairbanks resident Lucas Clooten, escaped injury when his vehicles airbags deployed.

The preliminary investigation at the scene revealed that Flynn was driving nortthbound with her passenger, failed to negotiate a turn and drifted into the southbound lane. Unable to avoid the oncoming SUV, Clooten collided head-on.

Flynn’s and Runfola’s next of kin have been notified of the incident.

The State Medical Examiner’s office will conduct autopsies on the two deceased teens.[xyz-ihs snippet=”Adsense-responsive”]

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