Little Miller’s to reopen today

PALMER — A coffee and ice cream stand badly damaged when a Dodge Dakota rammed into it Monday is expected to reopen Saturday.

Kelly Holmberg and her younger sister, Kendra LaCroix, are part of the Miller family that owns Miller’s Market in Houston and the two Little Miller’s stands on Lucus Road and Bogard Road in Wasilla.

Holmberg said the family rushed to open the Lucus location ahead of schedule after the accident Monday.

She said she was cleaning the espresso machine at the end of her shift Monday when the driver of the truck apparently ran the stop sign on Seldon Road, clipped another car, launched off a snowberm, stuck the stand and came to rest upside down in the drive-through lane.

Holmberg said her nose was broken in two places and she has lots of cuts from the syrup bottles that rained down on her during the accident.

She said her sister is pregnant and was in the restroom when the driver ran into the corner of the stand.

“I’m the big sister,” Holmberg said. “If someone had to get hurt, I wanted it to be me.”

Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene and say their investigation into the accident is ongoing. They’ve released the name of the driver as Ashley Hilton, 25.

All three women were transported to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for treatment Monday. Troopers said Hilton’s injuries were not life-threatening.

By Monday evening, workers had replaced the demolished corner of the stand with plywood.

Holmberg said the accident also shifted the stand on its foundation and destroyed the business’ espresso machine.

As for what caused the crash, troopers have said distracted driving was a factor.