When a car gets stuck on the side of a busy highway, it may be tempting to try and fix the problem alone or with a friend, but police say it is safer to call for help.
A Tuesday evening multi-vehicle collision on the Glenn Highway is a good example why.
A vehicle drove off the roadway and into a ditch.
Instead of calling Anchorage police to ask for assistance, another vehicle showed up and tried to tow the first car to safety sometime around 6 p.m.
A passing vehicle struck the vehicle of the good samaritan, another hit the cluster of disabled cars and so on.
No one was seriously injured, but when traffic came to a stop, nine vehicles were damaged and a lane of traffic was closed during the highway's busiest time of day.
"People just want to help," said APD spokesperson Jennifer Castro. "But drivers on the highway drive at a high rate of speed, there are bends and corners.
"If your car breaks down or runs out of gas, anything, just call APD and we'll come and assist."