Early morning crash takes one life

MAT-SU -- A 21-year-old Wasilla man died, and two were listed in serious condition after an accident on Fairview Loop early Thursday morning.

Alaska State Troopers responded to a report of a single-vehicle accident about 1:40 a.m. Thursday morning at Fairview Loop and Togiak Road. According to information from troopers who responded to the scene, Wasilla resident Matthew Olson, 20, was driving a 1990 Pontiac west on Fairview Loop at a high rate of speed when the vehicle hit an electric power pole. The impact caused extensive damage to the vehicle and power pole, according to trooper reports.

Passenger Arthur Lueken III, 21, of Wasilla, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was reportedly riding in the front passenger side of the vehicle, the side most damaged by the impact. Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson said the impact left live wires on the ground, so Matanuska Electric Association workers were called to secure the area before other passengers were removed.

Olson and 20-year-old Adam Kimball of Wasilla were taken to Valley Hospital, where they were listed in serious condition early Thursday. Nicholas McDaniel, 20, and Carly Petal, 17, both passengers in the car, and Philip Leidholm, 16, who was in the trunk, were also taken to Valley Hospital, where they were reportedly treated and released. All three were from Wasilla.

Wilkinson said there was at least one case of minor consuming alcohol and driving while intoxicated suspected in the case, although no charges were filed as of Thursday. No information was available about seatbelt use.

The accident happened one day before area troopers began their Operation CARE, a federally funded program providing 300 hours of overtime in the Palmer trooper post alone, which will allow officers to focus on keeping incidents of drunk-driving at a minimum. The extra patrols will begin Friday and run through Jan. 4, Wilkinson said.

"It's a horrible way to start out the holiday season," Wilkinson said.