Two Kasilof residents were killed in a fatal motor vehicle accident Friday on the Seward Highway near Girdwood.
Cherise James, 25, and Jackson Moore, 36, both of Kasilof, were killed when their car collided with an oncoming vehicle near Mile 99 of the Seward Highway on Friday. According to the Alaska State Troopers’ report, James was driving a 1999 Subaru Forester north when their vehicle crossed over into the southbound lane.
One vehicle, a 2003 Chevrolet Express van, managed to avoid hitting them and swerved off the road. However, the Forester collided with a 2004 Jeep Liberty that was towing a boat.
The passenger in the Jeep, Wendal T. Booth Jr. of Anchorage, was transported to the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment. Both James and Moore were pronounced dead on scene.
Alaska Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer Megan Peters said the troopers are still investigating, but it is hard to say what caused the accident at this point.
“Both people in the at-fault vehicle are deceased so no one can tell us what was going on inside the vehicle,” Peters wrote in an email.
Alaska State Troopers will conduct autopsies and toxin screens on James and Moore, which is a standard procedure in a fatal motor vehicle accident and may take four to eight weeks to come back, Peters wrote.
A GoFundMe account to help cover James’ funeral expenses, started by Laura Lannette Sanborn, had gathered more than $1,200 on Monday.
“She was a gentle spirit with a smile that could lift you from the darkest place,” Sanborn wrote on the page. “Thanks (sic) you Cherise for the love you gave … we will miss you more than words can say.”
Reach Elizabeth Earl at elizabeth.earl@peninsulaclarion.com.
