The following incidents were reported to Detachment E of the Alaska State Troopers.
Fatal motor home accident: At 3:23 p.m. on June 26, Troopers received a report of a motor home crash at milepost 25 of the Seward Highway. The motor home hit several trees before coming to rest when the center of the front bumper impacted a large tree. Jeffrey and Dawn Klausing, both 41 of Hawaii, were sitting on a couch in the back of the motor home and were killed on impact. All other victims in the crash have been released from medical treatment facilities as of today. The 2007 motor home was driven by Dale Podoll, 58, of Hawaii. Two of the passengers, Jeffrey Klausing, 41, and his wife, Dawn Klausing, 41, both of Hawaii died from their injuries. Another passenger, Eilene Podoll, 57, wife of the driver, was medi-vacked to Anchorage by Lifeguard. Dale Podoll suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment. Other passengers who were injured and transported via ambulance to various medical facilities for treatment were Catherine Dagata, 28, Donald Bobilya, 74, and Fatima Leonard (no DOB available).
The group was traveling northbound, driving from Seward after spending the day fishing out of Seward. They were headed back to Cooper Landing where they were staying at a campground. An investigation revealed the cause of the crash was the right front tire caught soft outside margin of the road, causing the large vehicle to gradually drift farther into the ditch and down an 8-foot embankment. The highway was closed for a 1-1/2 hour period due to a downed tree across the road, and intermittently while troopers conducted their investigation and to remove the wreck. Nobody inside the motor home was wearing a seatbelt, including the driver. Alcohol is not suspected to be a factor in the crash.
No commercial fishing license: On June 21, Nathan Mitchell, 21, of Morris, IL, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for commercial fishing without a 2007 commercial crew license. Bail was set at $260.
Motor vehicle crash: On June 22, at 8:00 a.m., Troopers responded to mile 96 of the Seward Hwy. for a motor vehicle crash. Investigation revealed that Kristina Grove, age 20 of Anchorage, had been traveling north on the Seward Highway when she fell asleep. Her 2007 Chevrolet Aveo then left the roadway to the right, drove through the ditch and came to rest in a small pond. Grove was not injured in the crash. Damage to her vehicle is estimated at $5,000.
DUI: On June 24 at 8:41 p.m., Troopers arrested Garrison R. Field, 20, of Anchorage, for Driving Under the Influence, Minor Consuming Alcohol, Minor Operating a Vehicle After Consuming Alcohol, and Minor Driving within 24 Hours of Being Cited for Alcohol or Breath Test Offenses, all of which occurred within the Seward Highway Traffic Safety Corridor. Field was operating a late model four door passenger car near mile 101 of the Seward Highway. He was contacted on a traffic stop because of a moving violation, an equipment violation, and the vehicle he was driving matched the description of a REDDI (Report Every Drunk Driving Immediately) vehicle. Field was cited for the moving violation and the equipment violation. Field’s vehicle was impounded and he was remanded to the Anchorage Jail. Bail was set at $10,000 cash only, plus a court approved third party custodian, and an alcohol and drug evaluation and treatment program in place with mandatory monitoring prior to his release.
Assault: On June 23 at 5:22 a.m., Troopers responded to a report of an assault that occurred at an Indian Valley area residence. An investigation revealed that two male subjects, one 17 years old and the other 19 years old were, having an argument over a girl. The argument escalated into a fight in which the 19 year old male sustained an injury which required a visit to an Anchorage area hospital. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this incident. The investigation is continuing.
False Statement Crew License: On July 26, Chance P. Ervin, 28, of Cordova, was cited by the Alaska Wildlife Troopers for making a false statement on his 2007 resident commercial fishing crew license. Arraignment is on July 25 in Cordova District Court.
DUI: On June 29 at approximately 9:34 p.m. Troopers stopped a vehicle
near mile 100.5 of the Seward Highway near Girdwood for erratic driving and after having been reported as a REDDI. The operator was identified as Daniel B. Kniskern, age 55, of Girdwood. Kniskern was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for DUI. Kniskern was remanded to the Anchorage Jail on a $500 bail.
Warrant Arrest: On June 30 at approximately 1:00 a.m. the Alaska State Trooper DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 1.5 of the Alyeska Highway in Girdwood for an equipment violation. A passenger in the vehicle was identified as Victor Miller, age 23, of Seward. Miller was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Miller was arrested on the warrant and remanded to the Anchorage Jail on a $1,000 bail.
Minor Operating A Vehicle After Consuming Alcohol: On June 30 at approximately 3:30 a.m. the Alaska State Troopers DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 1 of the Alyeska Highway in Girdwood for erratic driving. The two 17 year old male occupants from Anchorage were both found to have been consuming alcohol. The operator was issued a summons to appear in court for Minor Operating a Vehicle After Consuming Alcohol and Minor Consuming Alcohol. The passenger was issued a summons to appear in court for Minor Consuming Alcohol.
Driving With A Revoked License: On June 30 at approximately 2 p.m. Troopers contacted James Gepner, age 43 of Kenai, during a traffic stop near mile 101 of the Seward Hwy. The vehicle Gepner was operating was stopped for a moving violation. Following an investigation, Gepner was summons to appear in court on the charge of Driving With a Revoked License.
DUI: On July 1 at approximately 3:00 a.m. the Alaska State Troopers DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near the intersection of the Alyeska Highway and Timberline Drive in Girdwood for an equipment violation. The operator was identified as Sharon P. Cruickshank, age 30, of Chugiak. Cruickshank was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and in possession of a small amount of marijuana. Cruickshank was arrested for DUI and Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance in the sixth Degree. Cruickshank later refused to provide a sample of her breath for a Datamaster test and was charged with the additional crime of Refusal to Submit to a Chemical test. Cruickshank was remanded to the Anchorage Jail on a $1,000 bail.
DUI: On July 2 at approximately 4:38 a.m. the Alaska State Troopers DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 1 of the Alyeska Hwy. for erratic driving and multiple moving violations. The operator was identified as Michele M. Laging, age 41, of Girdwood. Laging was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for DUI. Laging later refused to provide a sample of her breath for a Datamaster test and was subsequently charged with the additional crime of Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test. Laging was remanded to the Anchorage Jail on a $1,000 bail.
Driving Without A Valid Driver’s License: On July 1 at approximately 9:20 p.m. the Alaska State Trooper DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 93 of the Seward Hwy. for a moving violation. The operator was identified as Donald Richards, age 44, of Anchorage. Richards was found to be operating the vehicle without a valid drivers license and was issued a summons to appear in court for NVOL.
Driving With A Suspended License: On July 1 at approximately 8:44 p.m. the Alaska State Trooper DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 98 of the Seward Hwy. for a moving violation. The operator was identified as Shelly J. Vendetti-Vuckovich, age 43, of Anchorage. Vendetti-Vuckovich was found to be operating the vehicle with a suspended drivers
DUI: On July 2 at approximately 2:05 a.m. the Alaska State Trooper DUI Enforcement Team stopped a vehicle near mile 98.5 of the Seward Hwy. for a moving violation. The operator was identified as Gary J. McFadden, age 57, of Cooper Landing. McFadden was found to be operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for DUI. McFadden was remanded to the Anchorage Jail on a $750 bail.