Trooper responding to call injured in Trunk Road crash

PALMER — An Alaska State Trooper suffered back and neck injuries early Monday after his patrol car crashed off the side of Trunk Road near the University of Alaska Experimental Farm outside Palmer.

Trooper Christopher Bitz, 26, was responding to a call of a woman walking in traffic on the Parks Highway just after 2 a.m. when the accident happened, according to a trooper news release.

Bitz’s car careened down a 75-foot embankment and struck several support cables for a new power pole before landing on its roof,

a trooper report said.

He was able to free himself and stood near his wrecked vehicle when other troopers arrived on scene.

Bitz, a Mat-Su Valley resident who has been a trooper for 10 months, was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. The extent of his injuries aren’t being released, citing privacy rules.

As of presstime Monday, trooper investigators had not determined what caused Bitz’s car to leave the road. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said the accident is being investigated as any car

accident.

Officers from the Wasilla Police Department took over responding to the call of a woman walking down the Parks Highway while troopers were tied up with Bitz’s accident.

Wasilla police Sgt. Kelly Swihart said the victim, 32-year-old Shauna Hoover of Palmer, appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when officers arrived on scene. Swihart said a 17-year-old driver called police to report being involved in the accident. No charges  will be filed against the 17-year-old, Swihart said.

“It was dark at the time; she was wearing dark clothing,” Swihart said. “From what I understand it was not a full-on

impact.”

Swihart said Hoover was conscious and talking when police arrived, telling them she fell down. Swihart said it was clear she had been hit by the car — perhaps the vehicle’s side mirror — and said Hoover seemed confused. According to a trooper report, Hoover received a laceration on her head and was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Swihart said he doesn’t expect charges to be filed against Hoover.

Contact Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@

frontiersman.com.