Unalakleet woman dies in car crash

June 15th 5:41 pm | Hannah Heimbuch

Alaska State Troopers reported Tuesday that Zoe Ivanoff, 46, of Unalakleet, died early that morning after her Nissan Pathfinder went off the Seward Highway.

Ivanoff reportedly grew up in Kotzebue, and had close family ties to Northwest Alaska.

At the time of the crash, an Alaska State Trooper vehicle was pursuing Ivanoff.

The Crown Point-based Trooper first made contact with Ivanoff around 3 a.m. at a pull out along mile 47 of the highway. The Trooper discovered her license was revoked at the time, and issued her a summons for driving without a valid operator's license.

Ivanoff's license was revoked as a part of sentencing in a DUI case, originating from an Oct. 22, 2011 incident.

After citing Ivanoff the Trooper called a tow-truck to remove the Pathfinder; however, during the hour-long wait for the truck's arrival Ivanoff, who had been waiting in her vehicle, drove away. This occurred at approximately 4 a.m.

The Trooper immediately pursued, losing sight of her after about eight miles. Ten minutes after the pursuit began, the Trooper discovered the Pathfinder off the road. Ivanoff had been ejected from the vehicle and, despite life-saving measures taken by the Trooper and another responding police officer, was declared dead at the scene.

The Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol responded to conduct an on-scene investigation.

Ivanoff's body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. Her next of kin were notified of her passing.

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