Construction company says its trucks weren’t involved in boy’s death

Construction company says its trucks weren’t involved in boy’s death

Construction company Granite Construction says its gravel trucks weren’t involved in an incident July 19 that killed an 8-year-old boy.

Noah Schwebach, of Eagle River, died at mile 58.7 of the Sterling Highway on July 19 after a large rock fell off an oncoming truck and crashed through the windshield of his family’s car, striking and killing him. The area where he was killed is under construction during an Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities highway expansion and rehabilitation project, contracted to Granite Construction.

The truck involved wasn’t identified immediately, and Alaska State Troopers are working with witnesses and Granite Construction to figure out what happened. On Thursday, a spokesperson for Granite Construction said in an emailed statement that the company had internally investigated and preliminarily found that it only had one truck involved in the project at the time of the accident, and it does not match witnesses’ descriptions of the truck involved.

“The Granite truck was traveling southbound toward our pit, which is near MP 63.5,” the statement reads. “Additionally, we have determined that at the time of the incident our truck was some distance away, traveling empty back to the pit. We believe that the truck that caused the incident was unrelated to our project, driving material southbound on the Sterling Highway.”

The company is still working with troopers, who have indicated that they did not believe Granite Construction’s trucks were involved, according to the statement.

In an update issued July 21, troopers said they had tentatively identified the truck involved and were trying to determine what the circumstances were, including what the vehicle was hauling at the time, according to the dispatch. Witnesses or anyone with information are asked to call the Soldotna trooper post at 262-4453.

Reach Elizabeth Earl at eearl@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Brad Snowden and Julie Crites participate in a Seward City Council candidate forum at the Seward Community Library in Seward on Thursday.
Seward council candidates discuss issues at election forum

Participating in Thursday’s forum were Julie Crites and Brad Snowden

Cam Choy, associate professor of art at Kenai Peninsula College, works on a salmon sculpture in collaboration with the Kenai Watershed Forum during the Kenai River Festival at Soldotna Creek Park in Soldotna, Alaska, on June 8, 2019. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Soldotna adopts arts and culture master plan

The plan outlines how the city plans to support arts and culture over the next 10 years

Architect Nancy Casey speaks in front of a small gathering at the Fireside Chat presented by the Kenai Watershed Forum on Nov. 30, 2022, at Kenai River Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Watershed Forum’s Fireside Chats return Wednesday

The chats will cover a range of interesting topics, centered on knowledge, research and projects

Erosion of the Kenai bluff near the Kenai Senior Center. (Photo by Aidan Curtin courtesy Scott Curtin)
Kenai to sign bluff stabilization agreement Monday

A signing event will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the Kenai Senior Center

Engineer Lake Cabin can be seen in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on Nov. 21, 2021. (Photo by Erin Thompson/Peninsula Clarion)
Public comment accepted for proposed rate increases for overnight fees at refuge

Campsites would increase $5 per night and cabins would increase $10 per night

Abigal Craig, youth winner of the Seventh Annual Kenai Silver Salmon Derby, is presented a novelty check by Kenai River Sportfishing Association Executive Director Shannon Martin, City of Kenai Mayor Brian Gabriel, and Kenai Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Springer at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Silver Salmon Derby nets fish, funds for river protection

116 fish were weighed by 79 anglers across the six days of competition

Soldotna Public Works Director Kyle Kornelis talks about the Soldotna field house project during a Soldotna City Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna awards field house contract

Anchorage-based Criterion General, Inc. will construct the facility

Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche testifies before the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during a meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly to let borough mayors speak sooner during meetings

The mayor’s report will now be given after the first round of public comments and before public hearings and new assembly business

Assembly members Lane Chesley, left, and Richard Derkevorkian participate in a borough assembly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Haara/Peninsula Clarion)
Assembly asks state to allow term limits for school board members

Alaska Statute does not allow term limits to be imposed on school board members

Most Read