Two Nome residents were killed in a motor vehicle crash today in the early morning hours outside of town.

According to Alaska State Troopers, 21-year-old Christine Buffas and 24-year-old Tiffany Habros were driving south on the Kougarok Road around 12:30am. Troopers say as Buffas was driving the vehicle “at a high rate of speed,” she drove off the road and tried to get back on but overcorrected. Consequently, the vehicle flipped several times.

According to AST, neither Buffas nor Habros were wearing their seatbelts; an investigation indicated the two women died upon impact from their injuries at the scene.

The state medical examiner will conduct an autopsy and further investigate the cause of death, which includes whether or not alcohol was involved.

Note: this is a developing story and may be updated with further details, as available.

Image at top: an Alaska State Trooper cruiser, parked near Front Street in Nome. Photo: Matthew F. Smith, KNOM file.