Man charged with hit-and-run on frozen lake

BIG LAKE -- An alleged hit-and-run incident on the morning of New Years' Day led to the recent indictment of a Big Lake man before a grand jury on two counts of assault and one of leaving the scene of an accident.

Trooper Timothy Lewis responded to an accident report early New Years' morning involving two snowmachines and one passenger car on Big Lake Ice Road, which runs across the frozen surface of Big Lake.

By 3:30 a.m., when Lewis arrived on the scene, the two snowmachiners were being transported to Valley Hospital by emergency personnel. However, Alan Stanhope, the driver of the car, finding his vehicle lodged in a snowbank, had fled the scene of the collision on foot, according to an affidavit accompanying charging documents that were filed in Palmer court.

The snowmachines themselves were in considerably worse condition than the car; one had sustained minor damage to its seat and engine hood, while the other had sustained heavy damage both to its skis and to its hood, which had shattered into several pieces. Troopers surmised from this evidence that the machine had rolled over at least once.

Roughly two hours later, while a tow truck was heading to the scene to take care of the stuck car, Stanhope reportedly appeared and identified himself as the vehicle's driver. Stanhope claimed that he was driving on Ice Road and observed the two snowmachines collide, the sight of which caused him to veer off the road into a snowbank, according to the document. He then stated that he walked over to check on the condition of the two snowmachine drivers, giving one of the injured men his jacket. According to the documents, Stanhope said when he asked for help in removing his car from the snowbank, the drivers became agitated, thinking that he was less concerned about their injuries than his own vehicle, and Stanhope left the scene, fearing ensuing violence.

The testimony from the two snowmachine drivers is somewhat different. They claim to have left the Call of the Wild, a nearby bar, and headed out along Ice Road, whereupon they were struck from behind by a car. The drivers also claim that they asked for aid from Stanhope, and he in turn asked for assistance in moving his car, saying that he would receive a DUI from police if they arrived on the scene, the documents stated.

Stanhope allegedly admitted to troopers that he had had one beer before getting behind the wheel, however, in the interim between the collision and his testimony, he had walked to the Call of the Wild and drank four or five beers. Troopers stated that his breath and person smelled strongly of alcohol, that he had bloodshot, watery eyes, and spoke with slurred speech.

Stanhope is charged with one count of with leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death and two counts of third-degree assault, all felonies.

Contact Daniel Spoth at daniel.spoth@frontiersman.com.