Car chase, rock fight sends 1 to hospital, 1 to jail

BIG LAKE — A road rage incident involving a miles-long chase and a rock fight ultimately landed two people in the hospital and a man in jail Saturday evening, authorities said.

Jeremiah L. DeSilva, 25, of Big Lake, faces two counts of third-degree assault in connection with the incident, as well as misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended, canceled, or revoked license, and disorderly conduct.

The incident reportedly started at a campground along Big Lake and ended with two broken trucks and injuries to more than one person along the Parks Highway.

Troopers responded to the scene of a motor vehicle collision about 6 p.m., May 30. They arrived to find a 2003 Ford pickup laying along the roadside near Mile 50, Parks Highway, and a caller told troopers the vehicle responsible for the wreck — a 1993 black Dodge pickup — was fleeing along a bike trail, according to an affidavit authored by trooper Lance Silva.

Troopers spotted the Dodge near the intersection of the Parks Highway and Margin Way, as well as the driver, DeSilva, and his passenger and girlfriend, Dana S. Foster.

DeSilva eventually told troopers he had been drinking for six and a half hours, and smoking marijuana at the South Big Lake campground. As he and Foster were leaving, the Ford, driven by Phillip W. Duke II, 28, pulled out in front of him and sprayed his truck with rocks. Duke made an obscene gesture and drove off.

DeSilva left his truck in the parking lot of a gas station at the intersection of the Parks Highway and Johnson Road to confront Duke, according to the affidavit.

Duke threw a rock that broke DeSilva’s windshield, then spun his wheels again, spraying DeSilva’s truck with rocks a second time. Duke drove off down Lilly Lake Road and spun out a third time, spraying rocks over DeSilva’s truck a third time, then slammed on his brakes. DeSilva told troopers he tried to stop, but couldn’t and ran into the back of Duke’s Ford.

DeSilva later registered a preliminary Breath Alcohol Content of .198. About half an hour later, DeSilva blew a .173 on the DataMaster, according to the affidavit. The legal limit for alcohol consumption in Alaska for noncommercial vehicles is .08.

Duke told troopers DeSilva pulled up beside the Dodge and challenged Duke to fight. Duke and DeSilva threw rocks at each other, Silva wrote, and one broke DeSilva’s windshield and the other injured Duke’s passenger, Alexandria L. Thom.

The Dodge truck had repeatedly rammed the Ford, until the two became stuck together while travelling approximately 60 mph, and the Ford rolled.

Thom was ejected from the Ford, Silva wrote.

Duke was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Authorities transported Thom to Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage for treatment, where she had been treated and released Monday afternoon.

DeSilva remained in Mat-Su Pretrial Monday afternoon on $7,500 bail.