One Killed in Sterling Highway Collision

12/30/2011

One person was killed and four others were injured in yesterday afternoon’s two-vehicle collision that closed the Sterling Highway for six hours near the intersection of the Seward Highway and the Sterling Highway.

State troopers say that a trooper came upon the crash, discovered one woman unresponsive. Despite CPR efforts, he was unsuccessful in reviving her.

The investigation by the troopers identified the woman as 20-year-old Andrea Leindecker. She was the driver of a 1995 Ford Aspire. She had been traveling southbound on the Sterling Highway, began sliding and crossed the centerline into the northbound lane. Leindecker’s car collided with a northbound Dodge Nitro driven by 28-year-old Sheena Sanchez of Anchorage. Sanchez, also had three juvenile passengers in her vehicle. Leindecker was pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez and the three children were taken to Central Peninsula Hospital with minor injuries.

The Sterling Highway was closed just before 4 p.m. and re-opened at 9:45 p.m.