Drunk driver causes crash, backs up traffic

PALMER — A 51-year-old Palmer woman was arrested for driving drunk after a two-vehicle crash on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway Saturday.

Alaska State Troopers say they responded around noon, Aug. 23 to the motor vehicle collision near Arabian Drive.

The crash happened when Jimmie Frank, 51 of Palmer failed to yield to oncoming traffic on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway. Frank’s blue Ford sedan collided with a Range Rover, driven by Lisa Stratton, 47, of Wasilla, who suffered minor injuries from the collision, according to a trooper dispatch.

The road was closed for about 30 minutes, troopers said. Traffic was backed up from Trunk Road to Equestrian Acres around 12:30 p.m., Saturday.

Frank was extricated from her vehicle by Mat-Su Borough EMS and transported via ambulance to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, troopers say.

She was arrested for driving under the influence and assault in the third degree upon her release from the hospital and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility with bail set at $5,000 and a required third-party custodian, troopers said.

Both drivers were reportedly wearing seat belts.