Troopers identify 2 bodies found inside car in Matanuska River

KNIK, Alaska (KTUU) - Two people were found inside the car that was submerged in the Matanuska River on Friday afternoon, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers identified the deceased in an updated dispatch posted Monday as 31-year-old Clayton McManis and 26-year-old Kaitlin Ogden, both of Chugiak.

About 4:30 p.m. Friday, a car left the Glenn Highway, went down the embankment and into the river. Troopers say recovery efforts were suspended at about 8:30 p.m. Friday as the water was too murky for divers to see. Recovery efforts began again at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

At 6 p.m. Saturday, the vehicle, a 1995 Toyota Tacoma, was pulled from the Matanuska River. Inside the vehicle, troopers say they found a man and a woman. Original reports from witnesses said a third person was in the vehicle. Troopers said that “there was no evidence to suggest that a third person was in the vehicle.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

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