Local News
Victims Identified in Fatal Plane Crash Near Nanwalek on Kenai Peninsula
Alaska State Troopers have confirmed that a small commercial aircraft crash on Monday afternoon on the Kenai Peninsula claimed the lives of the pilot and a passenger, while a second passenger remains hospitalized with serious injuries.
The aircraft, operated by Homer-based Smokey Bay Air, was on a scheduled flight from Homer to the remote village of Nanwalek when it crashed during its landing attempt.
The incident occurred shortly before 2:00 p.m. on April 28, 2025, near the Nanwalek Airport.
On Tuesday, troopers identified the pilot as 48-year-old Daniel Bunker of Homer.
One of the passengers, 37-year-old Jenny Miller of Anchorage, was also pronounced dead at the scene.
A second male passenger, who has not yet been publicly identified, sustained critical injuries and was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital for emergency treatment.
The Alaska State Troopers reported that multiple 911 calls alerted authorities to the crash. Local first responders and volunteers were the first to arrive and began administering aid to the three occupants aboard the plane.
A National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator accompanied troopers to the crash site to begin the official investigation.
According to NTSB Alaska Chief Clint Johnson, the crash occurred during the landing phase at Nanwalek Airport—a notoriously difficult airstrip due to its curved gravel runway, with only approximately 850 feet of usable landing surface.
Nanwalek, located at the mouth of Cook Inlet, is home to about 200 residents and relies heavily on small aircraft for access to and from the community.
The coordinated emergency response included assistance from Guardian Flight, LifeMed Alaska, Maritime Helicopters, the U.S. Coast Guard, and Alaska State Park rangers.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Further details will be released as the NTSB continues to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Local News
11-Year-Old Girl Critically Injured After Being Struck by Ambulance Near SLAM Charter School in Little Havana
MIAMI, FLORIDA — Authorities in Miami are investigating a departmental crash that occurred Friday morning in Little Havana, where an 11-year-old girl was struck by a Miami Fire Rescue ambulance responding to an emergency call with a patient on board.
The incident took place around 542 NW 12th Avenue, near SLAM Miami Charter School and just blocks from LoanDepot Park, according to Miami Police.
Witnesses at the scene reported that the child was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk on her way to school when the ambulance—identified as Rescue 4—approached the intersection with its emergency lights activated.
According to witnesses, the vehicle appeared to be traveling at a high rate of speed en route to the hospital when it struck the girl.
Emergency crews immediately rendered aid, and the victim, who sustained severe traumatic injuries, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Her current condition has not been released.
In a statement, SLAM Miami Charter School confirmed that the injured child is one of their students and said the school is in contact with the family and providing ongoing support and counseling resources to students and staff affected by the incident.
“It was a shocking scene,” one witness told reporters, describing the moments following the impact as chaotic and emotional.
Miami Police confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the crash.
Authorities have temporarily closed NW 12th Avenue between NW 4th and NW 7th Streets while investigators process the scene.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes as the investigation continues.