Man dies in Jim Creek crash

PALMER — A passenger in a pickup that rolled over near Jim Creek died at the accident scene Saturday.

According to a press release from Alaska State Troopers, the rollover was reported at 3:03 a.m. on the bed of the Knik River near Jim Creek.

“David Villaricencio, age 22 of Anchorage, was driving a 1994 GMC Sierra pickup on the riverbed when the truck accelerated while turning causing it to roll onto its roof,” troopers report.

A passenger in the vehicle, Shawn Bounds, 23, of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, was partially ejected from the pickup and the vehicle rolled on top of him.

Troopers and medics from both the Mat-Su Borough and the private air ambulance company Life Med tried to save him but could not.

Villaricencio was hospitalized with injuries troopers say were not life-threatening. Troopers are investigating the crash.