Two rushed to the clinic and released after a fiery collision on an icy road north of Klawock

Two people were rushed to a clinic and then released after a violent collision between two cars on Prince of Wales Island on Wednesday, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Mayor Don “Nick” Nickerson said the two cars collided about two miles north of Klawock.

“Our roads are super icy because of the weather we have. We had snow and rain so with everything that happened it just compacted into ice. And it is very unfortunate that this accident happened. I think if we had put gravel on our roads it could have been avoided, ”Nickerson said in a telephone interview.

Photos posted on social media show a car on fire as firefighters work to put out the blaze.

Nickerson says he hasn’t seen so much snow and ice on Prince of Wales Island in over 20 years. He says he’s asking the state to keep the island’s key roads passable.

“I hope that the Ministry of Transport will go there and have the main veins sanded. I really think it’s important. As it stands, it is really difficult for emergency vehicles to intervene in all areas of our highways, with the roads in these conditions, not only for our safety, but also for the safety of all. community members, ”Nickerson said.

DOT deputy director for the South Coast region, Pat Carroll, said state crews were sanding the roads on the island.

“Our main effort is on hills and turns. Not so right now, ”Carroll said. “In response, I believe, at the same accident, they went out and sanded that stretch of road as well. So we try to do our best with our resources and keep the roads safe for the public. “

He says the unusually snowy and cold weather is straining the resources of the ministry. He says the Klawick station is also understaffed.

A spokesperson for the state’s soldiers urged drivers to leave early, to keep a distance between their vehicles and those in front of them, and to always drive under current conditions.