Two paleontologists from Tennessee were airlifted to Seattle on Friday after a two-vehicle crash on the North Klondike Highway near Dawson City.

The collision was reported at approximately 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The American scientists, driving a pickup truck, were on their way to Whitehorse from Inuvik, where they had been working. They were struck by a sedan bound for Destruction Bay.

The paleontologists were taken to Whitehorse with non-life-threatening injuries, the RCMP reported this morning.

From there, both were transported to a hospital in Seattle, although only one needed further medical attention.

The two occupants of the sedan were taken to the nursing station in Dawson for treatment of minor injuries.

One woman, the driver of the sedan, was charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm and released from police custody on a promise to appear at the next Dawson circuit court.

Both vehicles are write-offs, police reported, and have been sent to the local wreckers.