Alcohol, speed to blame for Coffman Cove fatality

High speed and excessive alcohol consumption are being blamed as the cause of a fatal accident in Coffman Cove last week.

According to the Alaska State Troopers, law enforcement officers from Klawock, along with officers from the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, responded Aug. 11 to a report of a single vehicle accident involving a fatality on Coffman Cove Road.

Subsequent investigation revealed that a 2005 Jeep Cherokee was traveling north on the road at a high rate of speed when it drove into a ditch, rolled several times, and came to rest about 150 feet into the woods.

During the impact, a female passenger was ejected from the vehicle and was declared deceased at the scene. She was identified as Kimberly Shurte, 28, of Craig. Next of kin was notified and the body was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage.

The driver and two other passengers in the vehicle, all sustained serious, but non-life threatening injuries and were flown off Prince of Wales Island for medical treatment.

The 2005 Jeep Cherokee was a total loss and was towed from the scene.

 

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