TROOPER REPORT

The Alaska State Troopers reported the following incidents. Any charges reported are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DUI/Endangering the Welfare of a Child 1st Degree
GIRDWOOD—On March 21, at 1:30 p.m., a Trooper stopped a late model Buick SUV for speeding at mile 102 of the Seward Highway. Following an investigation Kristine Powers, age 44 of Anchorage, was arrested for DUI and Endangering the Welfare of a Child in the 1st Degree. Powers was transported to and lodged at the Anchorage Jail with a $500.00 bail.

Search and Rescue
GIRDWOOD—On March 21, at approximately 7 p.m., the Alaska State Trooper Dispatch Center in Soldotna received a 911 call box report regarding a snow machine rider who had been missing for approximately two hours somewhere in the vicinity of Turnagain Pass. The weather at the time consisted of low ceilings and heavy snow creating flat light conditions and extremely poor visibility. Two Troopers and a USFS Officer from Girdwood responded to the rest stops near the summit of Turnagain Pass with snow machines. One Trooper and the USFS Officer, along with the assistance of four Good Samaritans, launched a ground search via snow machine at 8 p.m. At approximately 9 p.m. the victim, John Corr age 25 of Soldotna, was located by a volunteer searcher and was brought back to the parking lot of the rest stop. He was cold and wet but did not require medical treatment. Corr had apparently become disoriented in the poor weather and unfamiliar terrain. He was able to find his way off the higher portions of the pass and onto a power line trail in the area. His snow machine became stuck which forced him to walk several miles before being located. All search entities were out of the search area by 9:30 p.m.

Truck Collision with School Bus
GIRDWOOD—On March 23 at 6:45 a.m., Charles Olinger, 56, of Girdwood was driving a 1999 Ford F-150 truck northbound at Mile 110 of the Seward Highway and was using the passing lane to pass a bus loaded with approximately 25 students headed to Anchorage when he lost control of the truck due to icy road conditions. The truck went off the road, hit the mountain and bounced back onto the road before being struck by the bus. Olinger was transported via ambulance to Elmendorf AFB for treatment of minor injuries. Neither the driver of the bus, Valerie Dimodica, 50, Anchorage, or any of the bus’ occupants were injured in the collision. The bus was carrying students from the Girdwood/Indian Valley area to Anchorage schools. The bus sustained minimal damage and the truck was totaled. The road was closed intermittently from the time of the crash until the scene was cleared at 9:23 a.m.

Failure to Return Harvest Report
COOPER LANDING—On March 23, Cooper Landing Wildlife Troopers cited Soldotna resident Tyson Levering, 42, and Jonathan A. Severson, 31, for failing to return his harvest report for the DC001 Caribou hunt. Bail is set for each man at $110.

Search and Rescue/Death

Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers Yancy Flair, 35, was caught in an avalanche while snowmachining at Johnson Pass on March 28. After several days of searching, Flair was presumed deceased. A recovery effort was underway as of Thursday, April 2. This photo, taken by a witness on the scene, shows the massive slide’s path, and is annotated with information marking the entry track and probable recovery area.

JOHNSON PASS—On March 28, at approximately 3 p.m., the Alaska State Troopers received a satellite telephone call from a party of snow machine riders in Johnson Pass. They were reporting that an avalanche had occurred and one person, Yancy Flair, a 35-year-old male from Anchorage, was buried. Flair is presumed deceased after several days of searching. Alaska State Troopers, USFS personnel, and Alaska Search and Rescue Dogs from Girdwood and Cooper Landing, as well as Cooper Landing EMS responded to the Johnson Pass Trail Head. Troopers responded to the scene via snow machine at 3:35 p.m. and more responded in a helicopter from Chugach Powder Guides. Together with Good Samaritans on scene a search was conducted in the area of the avalanche until 7 p.m. without success. The search was ended due to fading daylight and the forecast of severe winter weather. A recovery effort was expected to continue Thursday, April 2.