Update on 12/23/22:

The victim has been identified as 61-year-old Janelle Norman. Next-of-kin notification has been made.

Update at 10:04PM:
All lanes have reopened.

Update at 5:07PM:
Initial indications are that an SUV being driven towards the Peninsula lost control on a curve and was struck by a pickup travelling towards Anchorage.  The adult female driver of the SUV was declared deceased at the scene.  The three occupants of the pickup were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries (two passengers by ambulance and the driver by helicopter).
 
The deceased person’s identity will be released once next-of-kin notification procedures have been completed.

The highway is completely shut down at the crash site (located south of Portage).  The road closure is expected to last for a few hours.  A notification will be sent out when lanes are re-opened.
 
Original at 3:17 PM:
At 2:19 PM on December 21, 2022, Anchorage Police, Whittier Police, and the Anchorage Fire Department responded to mile 78 of the New Seward Highway (Placer River Bridge construction area) regarding a fatal crash.  APD’s MCIU (Major Collision Investigations Unit) will be responding to process the scene.
 
The highway is completely shut down at the crash site (located south of Portage).  The road closure is expected to last for a few hours.  A notification will be sent out when lanes are re-opened.
 
APD Case 22-41122