Fairbanks man killed, two others injured in vehicle accident near Cantwell
Originally published Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 2:05 p.m.
Updated Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 11:33 p.m.
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Stumble It!FAIRBANKS — A 23-year-old Fairbanks man died Friday in a crash on the Parks Highway, and two people were airlifted to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Jason Hackenmiller, a 2003 graduate of Monroe Catholic High School, died at the crash scene at 217 Mile Parks Highway, which is about 150 miles south of Fairbanks near Cantwell, Sgt. Chad Goeden said.
Hurt were 22-year-old Sharon Gutierrez of Fairbanks and 17-year-old Patricia Gutierrez of Palmer. Sharon was listed in stable condition at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, while Patricia was treated and released, according to Goeden and a nursing supervisor at the hospital.
The crash happened about 5 p.m., and Goeden said the highway was closed but he did not know for how long.
Hackenmiller had recently moved to Anchorage and was on his way to Fairbanks to visit his parents, according to his cousin, Stacey Carpenter of Juneau. His father, Larry Hackenmiller, is a former Fairbanks North Star Borough assemblyman who served on the board of directors of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers’ Association.
Hackenmiller had completed a master’s degree in business this year and was recently hired at KPMG, an international accounting and consulting firm, Carpenter said.
“He was a pretty bright kid,” Carpenter said. “He just had his whole future ahead of him.”
Goeden did not know the cause of the crash. The Cantwell-based trooper who responded to the crash scene could not be reached Saturday because he was on a training mission.
Goeden said Hackenmiller was the sole occupant of a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. Sharon and Patricia Gutierrez were in a 2000 Ford Focus. Patricia was driving.
The sergeant saw the two vehicles, which were towed to Fairbanks. Based on the damage, the impact probably took place at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles are totaled, Goeden said.
According to the National Weather Service, it was cloudy in Cantwell and the temperature was zero with calm winds and good visibility about an hour before the crash.
Carpenter said her cousin was born in Fairbanks and is a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he studied accounting.
He was the student body president at Monroe, where he also played basketball.
Carpenter said Hackenmiller spent this past summer touring national parks.
“He was just a very loving, empathetic person with a great sense of humor,” Carpenter said.
Community Discussion
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Jason's family is in my prayers, I'm so sorry for their loss. He was such an amazing person and a great friend.
I second that emotion!
Prayers go out to the family's of these children.
I'm going home and holding mine very close tonight.
I've met Jason on a number of occasions.
Very nice, and respectful young man.
Terrible, terrible loss......
All families are in our prayers. I find it sad that Goeden says that "the highway was likey closed but he didn't know for how long"
alaska_girl, I'm sorry you find it sad, but this incident happened 15 hours before I came on shift,100 miles outside the area I am normally responsible for. The responding troopers were at home asleep by the time I got to work and was interviewed about a case that I knew nothing about until today. Because they were all at home and it was a Saturday, I was the only supervisor available in the area, so I was interviewed. I certainly had the pertinent facts available to me, but how long the highway was closed was not deemed important enough to include in the case notes in the computer. How is it exactly you expected me to know this? I'm not upset or offended, I just sometimes get the impression that the public expects all troopers to know about all cases that happen on a 24 hours basis, which is simply not realistic.
Shame on you alaska_girl. This is a terrible tragedy that you use as some sort of soapbox.
Condolences to both families.
Jason's family is in my thoughts and prayers. He was such an awesome person and will be deeply missed. God has gained another beautiful angel.
Love you lil' buddy!
In my encounters with the Alaska Troopers I have always found them to be very professional and forthright.
My sympathies are with the families as they adjust to the great loss of a loved one.
Jason was a super-nice guy, always friendly...great smile.
Godspeed.
My prayers and thoughts go out to the loved ones on both ends...My condolences go out to the family and friends of Jason...I just want to take this moment to thank the Lord for Sharon and Patricia to be fortunate to still be on this earth...
Rest In Peace Jason. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
alaska_girl Common sense would tell you that the highway would be closed down after a fatal accident. One of the vehicles that was held up by the accident was a bus load of ROTC students from Colony High School.
The reason they were on the highway was to volunteer at a disaster drill held at the Tri Valley School in Healy on Saturday. The very Troopers who were on the scene of the accident all night long also participated in that drill. Each and every one of them had a wonderful attitude and we so appreciate all that they did for us!
Jason, I was just starting to get to know you. But in that short amount of time, I could tell that you were a quality individual. I will always remember the fun we had playing volleyball on sundays and, more importantly, your tremendous spirit. Work will simply never be the same without you. I will miss you, but after my time is done on this planet, I will see you again. My deepest sympathies to all touched by your life. All at KPMG love and miss you.
I think you are all reading Ak_girl wrongly.. I think she meant something else..I think .. after rereading her post... I think she has something else on her mind and didnt see it the other way.. could be just an error on her part and not meant maliciously ... am I right Ak _ girl?
To Jason's family I send my prayers and hope that you will find peace with this soon.
That particular stretch of highway I know very well, I too have been in an accident RIGHT there. It is the stretch of road just past Carlo Creek where you have the river on one side and the mountain side on the other with no ditch or turns either way, you know the one with the fog poles lining the sides of the road. It is a nasty area with lots of river fog and a very sharp curved bridge. Please be careful out there.
I am Jason's cousin Heidi in Minneapolis. Jason was one of the most caring people I have ever known. One of the last things Jason told me was that he wanted to spend more time with his family since he was moving back to Alaska. His family and friends were so important to him. I was just getting to know Jason again after not seeing him for several years. We connected again at our family reunion in Iowa over the 4th of July weekend. All of our hearts are broken. Let's not forget what is important here - A life has been lost - A life that had so many possibilities. We will miss you Jason and love you so very much!!
To Hack and Maggie Hackenmiller, my profound sorrow for your loss. I'm grateful for having known Jason, and I know that he will be terribly missed by all who knew his big heart and brilliant smile. God bless you all.
Dear Jason's family,
I'm so very sorry that I didn't wish you my condolences. I do, I'm very sorry. I've had a young nephew taken from me too soon in an auto accident. With this tragic accident and a loss of another young life, that those volunteers would still help with a disaster drill and display a fine attitude was awesome of them.
My sympathies to your family.
Condolences to the Hackenmiller Family in your time of profound loss.
Why does it matter how long the road's closed for? Somebody DIED, let the troopers find out why so that maybe next time it won't happen. I have absolutely no sympathy for those that complain about the road closing because of an accident. This is Alaska - with only two viable roads it's inevitable that it's going to be closed at some point. If you didn't want to wait then you should have flown. I'm sorry if I sound horrible but it's a pet peeve of mine. If you couldn't tell.
This is the second fatal on the Parks highway in a few weeks. People please, please slow down and be careful! There are icy patches you don't expect around corners where the sun doesn't hit the pavement. The investigating trooper got home at 2 am and had to be in Healy for the "school intruder" training at 9 a.m. the next day. He also has hours of paperwork ahead of him as he pieces together the tradgedy. Something others don't think about is the stress a fatal accident puts on those who respond. Certainly nothing near the stress the family and friends feel for the loss of the victim, but it is heartbreaking...even for the trooper.
Trooper Goeden, thanks for responding.
In my past experience, with the event of fatalities such as this, you can pretty much count on the road being closed for 4-5 hours while the scene is being investigated. The reason for this is to prevent vehicle debris and other objects (such as human remains) to remain intact where they fell until the Troopers can collect the information they need to reconstruct the accident, whether it be speed/road conditions, mechanical failure, mechanism of injury, etc.
If traffic is allowed directly thru the scene straightaway, this compromises the investigation.
This is much like investigating an aircraft mishap; and all the while the EMS folks are extracting and preparing victims for transport or recovery.
So, the next time you are held up by such a mishap, please take a deep breath and remind yourself these folks are doing their job as best they can out in the field.
Be patient, be careful.
My condolences to all involved.
I just don't understand what is going on. My daughters and their friends have had to deal with these awful deaths over and over and over and it's taking a toll on all of us. First it started with Will Bergeson, then Cameron Phillips, then John Henry Kurth, then Jeremy Earnshaw, then Josh Mayrand, now Jason Hackenmiller. And then I open the paper today and find another young man, gone at 20. I didn't know this boy, but I still grieve for his family. No more!
God be with you, Jason and my prayers to Hack, Maggie and their three children, and to the Gutierrez girls.
Just a moment of silence from me................
Jason I will never forget you and how you touched everyones heart that meet you. You will always be forever young. God has gotten a loving angel
My condolences to Jason's family.
akfriend and JB, indeed there are many accidents right at that stretch of highway (just north of Cantwell, before the first bridge into the park region) - my brother died at mile 215.5. Though safer driving is often important, that section of the highway has been in need of attention for a long time.
Did the bridge joists ever get repaired there? Perhaps some signage indicating that is a particularly treacherous area is in order from DOT?
For the Gutierrez family, you will also be in our thoughts. Hoping for a speedy recovery.
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