Mother and daughter die in Wrangell car crash; two others injured
WRANGELL, AK — A mother and her 7-year-old daughter died in a car crash early June 11, according to the Wrangell Police Department. Rainie Doak, 32, was driving when their vehicle left the road while returning home from a trip south of Wrangell.
Two other girls, aged 12 and 3, were injured in the incident and have since been flown to Seattle for treatment. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with authorities noting that accelerated driving may have been a contributing factor.
No occupants were wearing seat belts, and all were ejected as the vehicle rolled down an embankment. The crash is believed to have occurred around midnight, but the vehicle was not located until the evening of June 11, when a passing cyclist spotted it.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene shortly before 6 p.m. and quickly evacuated the survivors. While there has been no official update regarding their conditions, local reports indicate they are improving in Seattle.
According to WPD Chief Doug McCloskey, fatal car crashes are rare in Wrangell, with this being only the third in 26 years. The ongoing investigation is awaiting toxicology results from the State Medical Examiner's Office.
For support, friends of the family have created a GoFundMe page, which has raised over $10,000 for medical, travel, and lodging expenses.
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at 523-2271 or amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.