Driver and 2-year old killed in head-on collision near Cooper Landing
Sep. 9—A Soldotna woman and a 2-year-old boy died Friday when a car and a truck collided on the Sterling Highway near Cooper Landing, Alaska State Troopers said.
Troopers from Seward and Soldotna were called to Mile 57 of the highway just after 1:30 p.m. Friday, troopers said in an online statement. Troopers said it appeared the car, a 2008 Toyota Corolla traveling southbound, collided head-on with a 2021 Peterbilt concrete truck headed northbound. Multiple witnesses told troopers they saw the car drift across the center line before it struck the truck, troopers said.
The car's driver was Sherika Hatten, 30, of Soldotna, troopers said. The only passenger in the car was a 2-year old boy, troopers said. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.
The driver and sole occupant of the truck did not report any injuries, troopers wrote. After the collision, the truck slid down the road embankment, which is near the Kenai River, troopers said. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation "was contacted due to leaking fluids and fuel," troopers said.
