Boy perishes in crash

A Wasilla man who walked away from an Anchorage halfway house where he had been serving time for drunken driving and felony assault is accused of causing a fiery crash Tuesday night on the Parks Highway that killed a 4-year-old boy and critically injured the boy's mother, according to Alaska State Troopers.

John Knauss, 41, was driving east on the Parks Highway at about 10 p.m. when his 1968 Ford pickup reportedly crossed the center line on the overpass at Mile 46.5 and struck the left side of a 1985 Chevy pickup truck driven by Linda Mack, 35, of Anchorage, according to troopers. Mack's daughter, Jeanette Seybert, 15, and son, Floyd Mack, 4, were passengers in Mack's truck.

Mack's truck burst into flames on impact, trapping the passengers inside. Passers-by pulled Linda Mack and Jeanette Seybert from the burning truck just before it exploded, according to Alaska State Trooper reports, but apparently did not see Floyd Mack inside.

Floyd's body was found after the blaze was extinguished.

Linda Mack remained in critical condition at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, suffering from severe burns and other injuries.

Jeanette Seybert remained hospitalized at ANMC Wednesday, but was listed in good condition, said spokeswoman Charmaine Ramos.

Tammy Bradley, one of the people who arrived at the scene after the crash, helped pull the women from the burning truck. She said they performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Wasilla, Big Lake and Meadow Lakes ambulances responded, said Mat-Su Central Fire Chief Jack Krill.

The Chevy truck apparently ignited when its fuel tanks were struck at speeds of about 55 mph. "My understanding was that the fire was quick and intense," said Greg Wilkinson, trooper spokesman.

Krill said the Chevy truck was fully engulfed in flames when the first units arrived on scene. Knauss' Ford truck was 30 to 40 yards away and he was trapped inside.

"The two women received serious burns as a result of the accident," Krill said. "We extinguished the fire and pulled him from the truck."

John Knauss was transferred to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, where he was listed in critical condition Wednesday, Ramos said.

Troopers said they believed Knauss was drunk at the time of the crash. Charges had not been filedby Wednesday night, however.

Two years ago, Knauss was involved in a crash similar to Tuesday's.

He was convicted of first-degree assault, a felony, after an Oct. 2, 1999 incident in which he ran a red light at the Parks Highway and Main Street and slammed into a pickup driven by Joe Meixner of Wasilla. When arrested, Knauss' blood-alcohol level registered at .225 -- more than twice the then-legal limit of .10. The crash inflicted injuries severe enough to scar Meixner permanently.

Two months later, on Dec. 12, 1999, Knauss was again arrested for trying to steal a 1999 truck owned by Robert Knecht of Wasilla. According to court documents, he broke the truck window while it was left in the driveway warming up and attempted to drive away in it.

The owner caught him and tried to hold him while police were called to the scene.

When police arrested Knauss, he again was found intoxicated, according to police reports. He pleaded no contest to DWI, fourth-degree assault, and third-degree criminal mischief charges.

At Knauss' sentencing for both the October and December 1999 incidents, prosecutors argued that because of aggravating circumstances -- including four prior felonies and a juvenile history -- Knauss should be sentenced to five years.

Palmer Public Defender Greg Heath argued that Knauss had successfully completed probation without incident from 1995 to 1999. Just 12 days after he completed probation for the prior offenses, however, he caused the Wasilla crash that resulted in the DWI and first-degree assault charges.

Palmer Superior Court Judge Eric Smith sentenced Knauss to five years, with two years suspended. He also was to serve three days for the DWI, and 10 years' probation, with orders to complete a 180-day residential treatment program and pay restitution.

Knauss was sent to the Glenwood Center halfway house in April and was scheduled to be released next month, but he walked away from the facility on July 10, Bruce Richards, a Department of Corrections spokesman, said Thursday. A warrant was issued for his arrest when he failed to return after being allowed to leave on a pass, Richards said.