A black Dodge Dart driven by 24 year-old Cyle Dendy collided with a white Ford pickup driven by 38 year-old Aaron McGahan in the southbound lane of the Kenai Spur Highway, around mile 17 north of Kenai, on Friday morning. The Nikiski Fire Department responded around 10:34 a.m with approximately 10 people and 5 vehicles, according to Nikiski Fire Department Deputy Chief Trent Burnett. Alaska State Troopers also responded.

The only people involved in the accident were the two drivers of the vehicles. Denby was extracted from his car by the Nikiski firefighters using hydraulic cutting and spreading machines. A LifeMed helicopter landed just north of the accident site around 10:58 a.m. and evacuated the serioulsy-injured Dendy to Providence Hospital in Anchorage.

A Nikiski ambulance took McGahan to Central Peninsula Hospital with minor injuries. A Kenai Fire Department ambulance also responded to the accident at the Nikiski Fire Department’s request, but Burnett said he “turned them around once they got on location.”

Both lanes of the highway were closed soon after the Nikiski Fire Department arrived. The north-bound lane was re-opened around 11:22 a.m, and both lanes were open around 11:30. Troopers are asking witnesses of the crash to contact the Soldotna post with information at 262-4453.

A LifeMed Alaska helicopter landed on the Kenai Spur Highway to evacuate one of the drivers after a motor vehicle accident Friday morning.