Brief chase ends in crash, arrest

WASILLA — A 23-year-old Wasilla woman was arrested early Sunday morning after crashing the van she was driving while trying to elude Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers report that Leilonna Smith was driving a white 1985 Dodge van at about 2:30 a.m. when they attempted to pull her over for a traffic violation. Instead of pulling over, Smith attempted to elude troopers, but drove the van off the roadway and into the ditch on Kimberly Street near Melanie Avenue in Wasilla.

After catching up with Smith, troopers discovered Smith had allegedly been operating the vechicle while under the influence of alcohol.

After the driver was treated for minor injuries from the crash, she was arreted for felony eluding and DUI, troopers report. She was remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial Facility and held without bail.