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.
Seward Highway Fatal Collision
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Ken Smith/Turnagain Times
One driver was killed and two seriously injured in a collision on the Seward Highway Monday, July 15 at 8:20 p.m. The accident occurred about two miles south of Bird Creek. A Ford Pickup and an Acura (above photo) were involved in what appeared to be a head on collision. The driver in the Ford pickup was killed at the scene, and two injured people were extricated from the Acura. A Life Guard helicopter was launched and Girdwood firefighters worked to free the two injured people in the Acura. The highway was closed until around 1 a.m. No more details of the accident were available as of this writing. |
Motor Vehicle Collision With Injuries
TURNAGAIN PASS — On July 3 at 12:35 p.m. Gregory Staples, age 53 of Wisconsin, was driving south on the Seward Highway near the rest stops at the top of Turnagain Pass in a 2008 Dodge Caliber when he began to suffer from an unknown medical problem. Staples pulled into the rest stop and attempted to park but was unable. Staples struck the rear of a late model Dodge pickup occupied by Rose Hodges, age 28 of Palmer. No one was injured as a result of the crash. Staples was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage for evaluation and treatment of his injuries. Hodges drove her vehicle from the scene and Staples vehicle was towed.
Fatal Motor Vehicle Collision
COOPER LANDING — On July 3 at 9:30 p.m. Soldotna Dispatch received multiple reports of a three-vehicle collision near mile 43.5 of the Seward Highway. Troopers from Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Girdwood, and the Fairbanks DUI Enforcement Team responded to the scene. The investigation showed that Donald Setters, 61 of Eagle River, was driving a gold 1998 Jeep Cherokee northbound on the Seward Highway when he crossed into the oncoming lane of travel for an unknown reason. Setters’ vehicle collided with a brown 1993 Ford Aerostar van driven by JoeAnna Hoogland, 26 of Chugiak, who was traveling southbound. This collision forced Hoogland’s vehicle into the ditch where it rolled and came to rest on its side with Hoogland entrapped. Setters’ vehicle spun sideways in the road and was struck by a gray 2004 Dodge Ram driven by Paul Popovich, 21 of Anchorage. Setters was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the collision and died at the scene. All occupants of the other vehicles were transported by EMS to various hospitals with varying degrees of injuries. The investigation is ongoing.
Motor Vehicle Collision With Injuries
GIRDWOOD — On July 4, at approximately 4:45 a.m. a Trooper from Girdwood responded to a single vehicle collision with injuries located near mile 58.4 Seward Highway. Investigation revealed Travis T. Stowell, age 33 of Anchorage, was driving a 1989 Chevy Blazer southbound on the Seward Highway when Stowell fell asleep at the wheel and drifted into a ditch striking a steep embankment. The Blazer then bounced back onto the roadway where it skidded approximately 150 feet across both lanes of the roadway stopping against the guardrail. The Blazer was totaled and seat belts were reported to be worn. All occupants were transported to Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Warrant Arrest
GIRDWOOD — On July 3 at 1:04 a.m. a Trooper from Girdwood stopped a 1988 Jeep Cherokee near mile 104 Seward Highway for Speeding. An investigation revealed a passenger, Allen Clayton Leland Metcalf, age 28 of Anchorage, had an outstanding arrest warrant for Failure to appear in court (DWLS) for $500. Metcalf was arrested and remanded to the Anchorage Jail. The driver was issued a speeding citation.
Motor Vehicle Collision with Injuries
GIRDWOOD — On July 4 at 4:38 a.m. a Trooper from Girdwood responded to mile 58.5 Seward Highway for the report of a vehicle collision with injuries. An investigation revealed Lydia Hope Houghton, age 20 of Anchorage, was driving a 1998 Pontiac Grand Am southbound when she fell asleep at the wheel, left the roadway and impacted a steep embankment totaling her vehicle. Houghton and her passenger were transported by Girdwood EMS to an Anchorage Hospital. The investigation is continuing.
Warrant Arrest
GIRDWOOD — On July 5 at 7:19 a.m. Alaska State Troopers arrested Caleb Marc Peiper-Redman, age 27 of Anchorage, on an Anchorage Police Department $500 warrant for Failure to Appear. Peiper-Redman was contacted as the subject of a disturbance call in the Girdwood area. Peiper-Redman was remanded to the Anchorage Correctional Complex.
Search and Rescue
CROW PASS TRAIL, GIRDWOOD — On July 4 at 10:07 p.m. Girdwood area Troopers received a report that Jennifer Sullivan, age 21 of Anchorage, was approximately nine miles up the Crow Pass Trail suffering from a substantial laceration to her leg. Helo #1 was called to the area of seven-mile Eagle River Valley Rd. where it picked up an Anchorage Fire Department Paramedic and an Alaska State Park Ranger who was familiar with the area. The team then traveled to Sullivan’s general area and eventually located her. Her injury was treated at the scene. She was then transported to and Anchorage Fire Ambulance via Helo # 1, and then to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage. Sullivan will make a full recovery.
Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance
GIRDWOOD — On July 5 at 6:30 p.m. a Girdwood Trooper stopped a 2000 Plymouth Breeze near mile 98.5 Seward Highway for speeding. An investigation revealed Roy Gene Kunnuk, age 21 of Wasilla, possessed 10.1 grams of marijuana in his vehicle. Kunnuk was issued a Summons for Misconduct Involving A Controlled Substance VI and a citation for speeding. Kunnuk was released on scene.
Motor Vehicle Collision with Injuries
GIRDWOOD — On July 7 at 2:33 p.m. a Trooper from Girdwood responded to a Motor Vehicle Collision with Injuries involving two vehicles near mile 90 of the Seward Highway. This section of the Seward Highway is within the Seward Highway Traffic
Safety Corridor. The crash investigation determined that Lyman G. Nation, age 58 of Anchorage, was operating a late model mini-van traveling northbound towards Anchorage. Nation fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. Vehicle number two was a late 90’s model semi-truck pulling a side dump trailer owned and operated by a company in the Eagle River area. The driver of the semi-truck was wearing a seat belt and was uninjured. The side dump trailer sustained minor damage and was operable. Nation was wearing a seat belt and was uninjured. Nation’s four adult passengers were also wearing seat belts. They were transported to an Anchorage area hospital, treated for minor injuries and released. The rental vehicle was totaled and towed from the scene. Nation was cited for negligent driving.
Releasing Wild Game Without A Valid Permit
COOPER LANDING — On July 8, Wayne L. Koecher, age 63 of Cooper Landing, was convicted by Bench Trial in the Seward District Court for releasing wild game without a valid permit. Koecher, who resides in Cooper Landing, was contacted in November of 2007 regarding his wild turkeys that were allowed to roam unconfined. The Turkey’s had been seen in the Cooper Landing Elementary School playground on numerous occasion and were reportedly being chased by a brown bear within the school grounds. Koecher was totally uncooperative in the matter in spite of the significant public safety issues and was subsequently cited for the offense. Koecher was fined $500 for the offense.
Undersize Fish
WHITTIER — On July 5, Larry Ficek, age 37 of Anchorage, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Girdwood Post for possession of an undersized lingcod. Bail is set at $160 in the Anchorage District Court.
Driving While License Suspended
GIRDWOOD — On July 11 at approximately 9:50 p.m. a Girdwood Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding near mile 95 of the Seward Highway. An investigation revealed the driver of the vehicle, Brian A. Pittsenbargar, age 32 of Texas, was operating with a suspended driver’s license. Pittsenbargar was issued a summons to appear in court. Pittsenbargar was also issued a traffic citation for speeding.