Kasilof man, 87, dies of injuries from Sterling Highway collision

An 87-year-old Kasilof man died August 2 of injuries from a two-vehicle collision at the Sterling Highway and North Cohoe Loop Road, the Alaska State Troopers said.

Troopers identified him as Bruce Lape of Kasilof. He died at an Anchorage area hospital with next of kin present, according to a trooper dispatch posted Sunday afternoon.

The collision happened July 30 at 5:43 p.m. at milepost 111 of the Sterling Highway. Troopers said they responded to an automatic crash notification from a cell phone. They found a brown 2011 Subaru Outback driven by Lape and a green 1995 Mitsubishi minivan.

Lape was driving east on North Cohoe Loop Road and failed to yield while turning left onto the highway, troopers said. He turned in front of the minivan, which was traveling south.

An ambulance took Lape to a local hospital, and he was then flown to Anchorage. A passenger in his Subaru was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The minivan driver reported no injuries. All parties were wearing seat belts.

Federal crash data recorded three fatal crashes and five deaths in Kasilof between 2017 and 2023. Troopers said the investigation continues.