Bison collision sends ore truck into ditch

What began as a routine drive home turned into a memorable encounter with a herd of bison for Sebastian Saarloos on August 28. 

He was driving about a half-mile behind a Black Gold ore truck near Mile 1405 of the Alaska Highway when the truck encountered a herd of crossing bison.

The driver attempted to swerve to avoid a collision but was unsuccessful. The truck struck a bison and rolled into the ditch.

“It looked like a Ferris wheel turning, with all those lights,” Saarloos recalled.

“It was surreal, watching it roll into the ditch,” Saarloos said. “There were bison everywhere.”

Saarloos was the first person to arrive at the scene. Initially, however, he was reluctant to leave his vehicle.

“First off, it appeared the whole herd was crossing the road,” he said. “And second, what if the bison had a surge of adrenaline and charged me?”

After carefully approaching the wreck, Saarloos heard a voice from inside the truck.

“I’m stuck and can’t get out,” the driver told him.

Saarloos had already called 911 and knew emergency crews were on their way.

The Rural Deltana Volunteer Fire Department responded alongside the City of Delta Junction Fire Department, Big Delta Rescue, and Alaska State Troopers.

Firefighters worked to free the driver by cutting through the windshield and then removing the seatbelts. Once extracted from the truck, the driver was turned over to Big Delta Rescue for further care.

For Saarloos, the incident was a sobering reminder of how quickly wildlife encounters can happen on Alaska roads.

“What a night,” he said. “If that truck hadn’t hit the bison, chances are it would have been me.”

The experience also changed his speed on the road for the remainder of his drive. 

“I didn’t go over 30 miles per hour the rest of the way home!” Saarloos exclaimed.

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