ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage police responded to the scene of a single-vehicle accident that killed a woman Saturday morning. The driver and sole occupant, 47-year-old O’Malley Elementary School nurse Heidi Lubke, was declared dead at the scene.
A Hillside resident discovered the crash in a wooded area on the 11100 block of Hillside Drive at about 7:15 a.m.
A preliminary investigation shows Lubke's 2001 Saab was likely going 90 to 100 mph when she tried to turn at a curve in the road. Police believe her car hit the curb of a driveway and was launched into the air for 100 feet through a wooded area before coming to a rest.
“Those posted speed limits are for ideal conditions, so when you have fog and darkness, obviously anything above that could be considered hazardous -- in this case, unfortunately it was,” said APD Sgt. Mike Jensen.
Anchorage School District Superintendent Carol Comeau said Sunday that Lubke was known by many in the district as both a nurse and a very involved parent.
Comeau says O’Malley Elementary's principal will send a letter home with students notifying them of the loss. Crisis counselors and school psychologists will be available to students throughout the district.
Comeau says ASD will keep its staff and the community notified of funeral arrangements.
