Homer man critically hurt in car crash

A car crash in Anchor Point on Monday afternoon caused life threatening injuries to a Homer man. Mark Shufelt, 51, was taken by a medevac flight from South Peninsula Hospital to an Anchorage hospital where he is listed in serious condition.

According to an Alaska State Trooper press release, at about 4:10 p.m. March 3, Shufelt drove south in his 1998 Toyota Tacoma truck near Mile 155 Sterling Highway north of Anchor Point when he collided with a 2005 Ford Taurus driven by Donald Krech, 56, of Ninilchik. 

Both cars left the highway on the west side and rolled numerous times. 

Shufelt did not wear his seat belt and was thrown from the truck. Krech and his passenger, Timothy Johnson, 54, of Ninilchik wore self belts and had non-life threatening injuries. Emergency responders transported all three men to South Peninsula Hospital. Shufelt was stabilized and later medevaced to Anchorage, said trooper spokesperson Beth Ipsen. 

The highway was closed about 20 minutes for emergency responders, she said.

Road conditions were good, with no ice or snow on the road and clear, sunny weather. The crash happened on a straight section of the highway. The circumstances of the crash are still under investigation. Blood draws were done of both drivers, but Ipsen said toxicology has not yet been done.

Because Shufelt’s condition was critical, troopers did not release his name until Tuesday afternoon after family were notified.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.