An Eagle River boy has died after a large rock fell off a truck on the Sterling Highway and crashed through the windshield of the car he was riding in.

Alaska State Troopers report that Noah Schwebach, 8, of Eagle River, died on scene Thursday near mile 58.7 of the Sterling Highway, west of Cooper Landing. Troopers wrote in an online dispatch that Schwebach had been riding northbound in a Volkswagen GTI Hatchback with four other people when a “volleyball-sized” rock fell off the back of a rock truck traveling southbound.

“The rock went through the windshield of the Hatchback and struck the middle backseat passenger,” the dispatch states. “After striking the passenger, the rock bounced out of the Hatchback.”

Lifesaving measures were taken, but Schwebach died on scene, according to the dispatch. No one else in the car was hurt.

That part of the highway is under extensive construction for a highway improvement project from mile 58–79, with large vehicles moving in and out of the area. The vehicle the rock fell off has not been positively identified and investigation is ongoing, the dispatch states.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@peninsulaclarion.com.