Drunk driver, drunk passenger swap seats

TALKEETNA — Alaska State Troopers say they arrested a Palmer teen Sunday after watching her hit a pickup with her Chevy Blazer.

According to a trooper press statement, Desarae Handley, 19, Sutton, was northbound in the Blazer when she rear-ended a Ford pickup. Neither Handley, her passenger, nor the other driver, Arthur Wettanen, 64, of Talkeetna, was hurt.

The wreck was at 2nd Street and Talkeetna Spur and troopers say they watched it happen. They also say that just after the wreck, Handley changed seats with her passenger, Zachery Pierwola, 21, of Wasilla, but neither was sober.

Both were arrested for drunken driving. Handley also faces charges of driving on a suspended license, underage drinking and being underage and driving a vehicle after drinking.