Glenn Highway

A nine-car pileup on the northbound lanes of the New Seward Highway drew Anchorage police and firefighters to the scene Wednesday afternoon. APD dispatchers say the collision was reported at about 12:30 p.m., between the Dimond Boulevard and Dowling Road exits. No major injuries were reported, and tow trucks were en route to the scene to clear the highway Wednesday afternoon. The crash came less than two hours after a series of wrecks on the Glenn Highway inbound near Muldoon Road briefly closed the roadway, with one lane of the Glenn reopening at about noon.

The Glenn Highway reopened Wednesday afternoon after several crashes in the Ship Creek area closed the highway for more than an hour, according to Anchorage police. APD spokesperson Anita Shell says inbound traffic on the highway was initially turned around at Arctic Valley Road after the collisions -- including one four-car crash, two three-car pileups and several single-vehicle accidents -- were reported to police and fire units beginning at about 10:50 a.m. Numerous vehicles involved in the wrecks were still at the scene Wednesday, including a pickup truck in the median near the Glenn's inbound Muldoon Road offramp, and a Jeep and an SUV which were both on their sides.

The Anchorage Police Department says an officer allegedly driving erratically on the Glenn Highway in a cellphone video posted on YouTube by an Eagle River man was eating at the time. APD spokesperson Lt. Dave Parker says the officer informed superiors Wednesday afternoon. A passenger in David Moore's vehicle took cell phone footage of the vehicle while on the Glenn Highway Tuesday. The video shows an APD patrol car speeding up, slowing down and swerving, according to Moore.

Gregory Fulling, the man accused of driving the wrong way down the Glenn Highway while under the influence and slamming into an Anchorage police officer head-on last September, is about to go to rehab. Fulling, still wearing a neck brace, made an appearance in an Anchorage courtroom Friday for a bail hearing. Judge Jack Smith reduced part of Fulling's bail, based on performance, from $10,000 to $1,000. He kept Fulling's appearance bail at $10,000. Smith is also allowing Fulling to start attending an alcohol rehabilitation program at SARP, a Salvation Army in-patient program in Anchorage.

Light to moderate freezing rain fell in and along the Chugach mountains yesterday evening and overnight.  While most of the urban corridor was untouched by the rain, some areas right along the mountains have very slick, water-on-ice roadways this morning.  This includes---Palmer, the Butte, Chugiak, Eagle River, the Anchorage Hillside. Turnagain Arm, and Girdwood. Conditions are improving as crews get surfaces sanded and traffic creates some texture on the roads.  Reports indicate that side streets are still very slick but that the Glenn Highway and other main roads are improving.

A Mat-Su Borough ambulance was rear-ended on the Glenn Highway on Wednesday evening, according to Alaska State Troopers. The collision happened around 6:00 p.m. Wednesday near the Knik River Access. Troopers said 65-year-old Johnnie Loew, of Palmer, was driving a red 1998 Oldsmobile Alero when he struck the driver side bumper of the ambulance and eventually stopped in a ditch. 30-year-old Beth Baynum, of Palmer, was the ambulance driver who stopped on the roadway to assist another vehicle that went into the ditch, troopers said.

Snowfall shutdown the inbound Glenn Highway Sunday afternoon for a short time at the Fort Richardson exit, and drivers reported only being able to see about 20 feet in front of them. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, dispatch reported there were 38 accidents around town, 62 vehicle in distress calls and three accidents with injuries. The National Weather Service issued the following statement, "very hazardous driving conditions are being reported along the Glenn Highway with periodic road closures due to the restricted visibility.

Alaska State Troopers are investigating a pretty bold break-in near Palmer, in which thieves emptied a store filled with thousands of dollars worth of antiques. Driving past, you'd never know what was inside the rustic roadside complex near mile 37.5 of the Glenn Highway. It's been locked up for years. The neighbors check on the property from time to time and it seemed pretty secure. That was until last week when someone kicked in the door and emptied out all of the valuables inside.

The Food Bank of Alaska will be helping families who struggle to put together a Thanksgiving dinner with their “Thanksgiving Blessing” food handout Monday. At locations across Anchorage, the Food Bank will be providing families with turkey and all the other Thanksgiving trimmings. In all, they're preparing for 7,000 families to show up. " I've been at the Food Bank for 10 years and we've never seen a decrease in need," said Susannah Morgan, Executive Director. The event takes place Monday, Nov. 21 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the following locations: Crosspoint Church (Dimond and Minnesota in the Burlington Coat Factory mall)

An Anchorage man apologized for colliding with police officer Jennifer Pierce's vehicle in July and seriously injuring her at his arraignment Sunday on charges including DUI and reckless driving. Jariss Black, 21, was arrested Saturday after surrendering at a Spenard APD substation. "I don't know if the victim was here or not, but I just want to apologize to her," Black said in court Sunday. A gold BMW driven by Black hit Pierce's APD cruiser on the Glenn Highway near the McCarrey Overpass at about 3:15 a.m. on July 31. Witnesses say Black appeared to be racing a Dodge Charger when the BMW lost control, and fishtailed across the median.