From the blotter: Valley man killed in collision on Glenn Highway

ANCHORAGE — A Palmer man died Sunday after crashing into a street-sweeper on the Glenn Highway.

According to an Anchorage Police Department press release, at 11:58 p.m. officers were called to the Glenn Highway under the North Birchwood overpass.

There, they found that Chad O. Wylie had rear-ended the street-sweeper in his Chevrolet pickup while heading into Anchorage.

Police say the driver and the passenger of the street-sweeper were unhurt.

They say the street sweeper was not actively cleaning at the time but was loaded with 300 gallons of water and driving with its yellow flashers on.

The Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department managed to pull Wylie from the wreck but he later died on scene. The wreck diverted traffic for about five hours.

Minor injuries suffered

in plane crash

PALMER — Alaska State Troopers say an Anchorage man lost control on a wet runway near Lake George and crashed his plane.

According to a trooper press statement, David Fair, 42, of Anchorage, was landing when he crashed.

He had two passengers on board – Gavin Dittman, 23, and Ashleen Dittman, 21, both of Anchorage.

Troopers launched a helicopter to the scene and airlifted the passengers out. Ashleen Dittman was hospitalized at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with minor injuries after complaining of neck and back pain.

Fair declined an offer to be airlifted. He and Gavin Dittman were not hurt in the crash.

Napping ATV driver jailed

TALKEETNA — A hypothermic man laying on an ATV trail wound up in jail on drunken driving charges.

According to Alaska State Troopers, at 9:39 p.m. Friday officers were called to a spot several miles up the trail that comes off of Yoder Road.

Troopers went in on ATVs but had to continue on foot when the trail became impassable.

Finally on scene, they found Joseph Ross, 40, of Anchorage, still passed out in the trail. After troopers and medics revived Ross he was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for treatment of hypothermia.

Troopers say Ross was riding his ATV when he passed out. They also say he had a rifle on him. Thus, after he checked out of the hospital he was checked in at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility, charged with drunken driving and weapons misconduct.

Jail records Monday afternoon showed he had since bailed out.

Firefighter hit while driving to accident scene

PALMER — Lights and sirens apparently weren’t enough to warn a Palmer man that a deputy fire chief was passing through.

According to a Palmer Police Department press release, the deputy chief — Bruce Axtell — was southbound on the Glenn Highway heading to a traffic accident Aug. 24.

He stopped at the intersection with Evergreen Avenue, then continued on with his lights and sirens going.

At the same time, Louis Duncan, 21, of Palmer, entered the intersection and hit the right side of Axtell’s vehicle.

Police say no one was hurt in the wreck. Duncan was cited for not yielding and for lacking proof of insurance.

Woman takes

drive-thru literally

PALMER — Police say a Wasilla woman was drunk Saturday when she drove into the drive-thru menu sign at Taco Bell. According to a Palmer Police Department press release, Toni M. Murphy, 23, drove into the sign, causing enough damage to close the restaurant briefly.

She was arrested on scene, charged with drunken driving and jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $2,500 bail.

She must find someone to watch over her before she can be released. Jail records Monday afternoon showed she was still incarcerated.

Man can post bail,

but not pay his bill

PALMER — A Palmer man ran afoul of the law twice last week for not paying his check.

Adam Michael Waterhouse, 30, of Palmer, was arrested Thursday, charged with theft of services and issuing a bad check after he walked out of a restaurant without paying for his meal.

Palmer Police say that’s not the first time they ran into Waterhouse last week.

Two days prior, they sent charges to the District Attorney after Waterhouse failed to pay for a $125 taxi ride.

Waterhouse was jailed on $250 bail after his second run-in with Palmer police. Jail records Monday afternoon showed he’d since bailed out.

Driver arrested after pickup hits wagon

PALMER — Alaska State Troopers say a drunken driver left the road and cracked an antique wagon in half.

According to a trooper press statement, at 10 p.m., Saturday they happened upon a disabled 2007 Chevrolet pickup, “which appeared to have just been involved in an accident on the side of the road.”

Trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said the whole thing happened somewhere near the Palmer Golf Course.

Troopers tracked down the driver, Robert Stafford, 32, of Sterling, and say he was driving drunk, left the road, “striking an antique 1936 buckboard wagon valued at approximately $2,000, splitting it in half.”

Troopers say that afterwards Stafford drove off, getting as far as his mortally wounded pickup could go before it finally gave out.

Stafford was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on $1,000 bail. Jail records Monday afternoon showed he had since bailed out.