Treacherous road conditions on the Sterling highway on Saturday night brought out the best of the Alaskan spirit; as travel both North and South was stalled due to a school bus sliding off of the icy roadway near the Russian River Ferry Terminal.
Patient travelers, including multiple, school sports teams returning from activities in the Valley and Anchorage; the efforts of a lone Alaska State Trooper and a pair of good Samaritan truck drivers turned a stressful Saturday night roadside accident into a memorable example of the Alaska spirit.
On Saturday night around 9:30 – 10 p.m.:
The Homer girls basketball team, traveling Southbound on the Sterling Highway just North of the Russian River Ferry parking area, slid off the highway on black ice and came to rest with the rear of the bus in the Northbound ditch and the front of the bus in the Northbound lane.
The Homer players were transferred to the Soldotna High School boys basketball bus, which was just behind the accident; and drivers, coaches, an Alaska State Trooper, and other travelers donning reflective gear assisted in managing the accident scene.
Two truck drivers hauling a Southbound load labeled “Caution Aviation Fuel” proposed the option of extricating the back wheels of the Mariners bus from the ditch by using their vehicle with chains and a winch. After receiving a supportive “Lets Do It” from the surrounding motorists, the plan was put into affect.
The duo returned to their semi-truck, which was five or six vehicles back from the stranded bus, disconnected their load from the truck cab, chained-up, and proceeded into position in-front-of the sideways school bus. With a “we can move this” demeanor, the two men hooked-up the bus, winched and pulled the bus easily back onto the road.
Crisis averted!
Travel both North and South resumed by 10:30 p.m. on the Sterling Highway. No injuries, no vehicle damage, plenty of good Samaritan spirit.
We’re Alaskans, we can do this!
Story as aired: