Alaska Department Of Public Safety,State Troopers Public Information Office

Dispatch Text:

Update: Based on additional investigation, Troopers determined that 29-year-old Fairbanks resident Gideon Grady was the driver of the fleeing vehicle. The passenger of the fleeing vehicle, 58-year-old Fairbanks resident Gregory Green, was declared deceased on August 2, 2023. Green's next of kin has been notified. On August 15, 2023, Grady was arrested by Fairbanks Troopers on an active arrest warrant for Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter, Assault 1, and Fail to Stop. Grady was remanded to Fairbanks Correctional Center. 

Original: On July 23, 2023, at 5:09 pm, the Alaska State Troopers were notified by the Seward Police Department that they were pursuing a vehicle in Seward. Prior to the pursuit, Seward Police Department received multiple REDDI reports that the vehicle was driving erratically, nearly struck pedestrians, and was driving in the wrong lane of travel. Troopers responded to the area to assist. Prior to their arrival, the vehicle was able to elude the pursuing officers in the Seward area. Troopers received a report of a dangerous driver in the area of mile 4 of the Seward Highway, matching the description of the earlier suspect vehicle. The vehicle was reportedly driving in the wrong lane of travel and driving recklessly. Troopers were able to locate the vehicle. Near mile 10, a marked Alaska State Trooper patrol vehicle attempted to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to stop, and the Trooper initiated a pursuit due to the extreme danger that the driver presented to the other drivers on the Seward Highway. Moments later, the suspect vehicle collided with a vehicle traveling in the southbound lane near mile 13 of the Seward Highway. Both adult male occupants of the suspect vehicle were ejected from the vehicle. They were subsequently medevaced to an Anchorage area hospital with serious injuries. The sole adult male occupant of the southbound vehicle was taken to a Seward area hospital in stable condition. The Seward Highway was closed for approximately 6 hours as Troopers documented the scene and cleared the damaged vehicles. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

If you had to take evasive actions to avoid a blue 2006 Toyota Corolla on the Seward Highway on July 23, between 4 pm and 6 pm, or have a photo or video of this vehicle driving recklessly, please reach out to the Alaska State Troopers at (907) 262-4453. A stock photo of the vehicle can be found here.