Expect the unexpected

PALMER — As if he needed any reminder, a crash Tuesday reiterated for the city’s top cop the need to remain hyper-vigilant when driving this time of year.

“Always expect the unexpected because sooner or later it’s going to happen,” said Palmer Police Chief George Boatright in a succinct summary of his tips for winter driving.

The crash in question happened well outside of city limits at the intersection of Seldon Road and Lakeview Road. Boatright was on his way to work at around 7 a.m., driving his 2001 Dodge Charger police cruiser when a 2002 Chevy Blazer pulled out in front of him.

“I really seriously thought I was going to T-bone her. How I got around behind her I just don’t have a clue,” Boatright said. “Then there was another vehicle and I turned to the left to avoid it and wound up in kind of a low-impact collision with a gal in the Toyota.”

Troopers identify the driver of the Blazer as Kayce Haynes-Green, 49, of Wasilla. The Toyota — a Tacoma pickup — was piloted by Judith Wise, 49, of Palmer.

“The gal that pulled out in front of me was just absolutely terrified, just devastated,” Boatright said.

It’s an assessment he said he doesn’t make lightly as a man who has seen more than his share of shaken-up drivers at accident scenes.

He said he didn’t talk to Wise or Haynes-Green about the crash. Knowing that troopers were about to arrive on scene, he didn’t want to involve himself in their investigation.

Boatright drives through that intersection a lot, he said, and is always wary. It’s a shortcut to Teeland Middle School. There is a lot of traffic there. The intersection could use some attention, he said.

“What’s interesting about it is that it’s an intersection where I expect that to happen and it still happened,” Boatright said.

All-in-all, he said, he’s glad it turned out the way it did. It could have been much worse, he said. There was quite a bit of property damage, but nobody got hurt.

“I probably slowed down to, I would guess, 35 or so as I approached the intersection,” he said.

Lower speeds likely helped, as did his police training.

“You train for it you think about it and when it really comes you don’t think about it you react. You don’t have time to think about it,” he said.

He said his Charger is going to cost just more than $4,000 to fix. Since the accident he’s been driving a car the department had in reserve — an older model pushing 100,000 miles. Since the accident, his officers have also been giving him some good-natured ribbing.

“If they didn’t I would be a little concerned,” he said.

Boatright’s wreck came within a week of a crash involving another top Valley law enforcement official. On Nov. 24, trooper Capt. Dennis Cassanovas, who happened upon a vehicle in the ditch, had his 2007 Ford Crown Victoria patrol car rear-ended as he stopped to offer help. Neither Cassanovas nor the driver that hit him were hurt.

It’s just an odd coincidence, Boatright said, that the two crashes were so close together.

Another odd thing — on the way home that day, at almost exact same spot where he crashed, a moose calf jumped out in front of his vehicle. He took it as yet another sign that someone was telling him to watch out in that intersection.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.

Safe Driving Tips

Alaska State Troopers safe driving tips:

• Fully clean snow off of your car and defrost the windows before driving.

• Turn on your headlights when it is gray or snowing.

• Drive on snow and ice only when necessary.

• Have sunglasses handy: sun bouncing off of snow and ice can be blinding.

• Allow at least two car lengths for every 10 mph of speed you’re traveling.

• Brake carefully and gradually only when driving in a straight line.

• Watch out for ice, especially black ice at intersections, underpasses, shady spots and bridges.

• Don’t slow down driving up an icy hill.

• Use low gear instead of brakes when driving downhill.

• If you start to skid lay off the gas and brake until you have control of steering and turn the wheels gently the same direction you are skidding.