One man was killed and four people were injured when a three-vehicle crash brought one of Southcentral Alaska's most traveled corridors to a standstill on Saturday afternoon. Shortly after 1 p.m. on May 2, 911 dispatchers began fielding multiple calls about a serious collision at Mile 56.5 of the Seward Highway, near the junction with the Hope Highway. By the time troopers arrived, three vehicles had sustained disabling damage and the road — a lifeline connecting Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula — had effectively stopped moving.

Four people were transported from the scene for medical treatment. One of them, James Pollack Sr., 67, of Homer, did not survive. His name has since been released by Alaska State Troopers. The conditions of the other three injured motorists had not been publicly reported as of Sunday morning.

"The Seward Highway remained closed for approximately three hours while troopers and emergency crews investigated the scene and cleared the wreckage."

Alaska State Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have captured it on a dash camera, to contact their Palmer post at 907-262-4453. That footage — and the accounts of anyone who saw the moments before impact — can be crucial to understanding exactly what happened.

What caused this crash is not yet known publicly. But in multi-vehicle collisions, that question matters enormously for the families left behind. Speed, distracted driving, lane departure, mechanical failure, or road conditions — each scenario carries different legal consequences for those responsible. For the families of James Pollack Sr. and the other injured motorists, the days and weeks ahead will be defined by grief, medical uncertainty, and unanswered questions. Alaska law provides a path — but the window to preserve evidence, identify liable parties, and assert your rights is narrow and time-sensitive.

As an Alaska trial lawyer, Eric Derleth has spent decades helping injury victims and surviving families navigate the aftermath of serious accidents. An early consultation costs nothing and can protect everything. Contact us today for that complimentary consultation because Alaska crash victims deserve answers, and accountability.