Man sentenced in 2002 drunken-driving death

PALMER -- A Wasilla man convicted of second-degree murder for causing a crash that killed a 21-year-old passenger two years ago was sentenced Friday in Palmer Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Beverly Cutler sentenced Matthew A. Olson, 22, to 15 years in prison, with five years suspended and five years of probation, for a total of 10 years to serve.

Arthur J. Luecken III died in the Dec. 19, 2002 crash on Fairview Loop, which occurred at about 1:40 a.m. after Olson sped through a 25-mph zone, swerved and then collided with an electric-power pole. Luecken was riding in the front passenger seat when the car hit the pole.

Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak has previously said the force of the impact snapped the power pole in two.

In addition to being charged with second-degree murder, Olson was charged with first-degree assault, third-degree assault, driving under the influence and minor consuming or possessing alcohol.

There were four other passengers in the car, all of whom were under the legal drinking age at the time of the crash, according to court documents.

Passenger Adam Kimball, then 20, was taken to Valley Hospital after the crash and was listed in critical condition with Olson.

The other passengers -- Nicholas McDaniel, then 20, Carly Petal, then 17, and Philip Leidholm, then 16 -- were also treated at the hospital the night of Dec. 19, 2002.

Leidholm was riding in the trunk when the crash occurred.

The crash happened one day before Alaska State Troopers launched Operation CARE, a federally funded program aimed at reducing incidents of drunken driving.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.