Mother sentenced on charge relating to fatal teen crash

PALMER — A woman prosecutors allege provided alcohol for underage kids who later got into a fatal accident avoided jail and was ordered to pay $2,000 in fines.

Amy Thompson, 36, was charged with a list of misdemeanor counts that included contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing alcohol to minors. The charge she pleaded guilty to was providing alcohol to minors.

According to court documents, the wreck occurred Aug. 4, 2010, at around 10:30 a.m. on S. Cameo Drive in the Point MacKenzie area.

There were nine teens in the van ages 14 to 16. None were wearing seatbelts. Rowdy Taber, 15, was behind the wheel. Investigators say he lost control and the van rolled multiple times, partially ejecting two teens. Six kids went to the hospital. Taber died.

Jarom Bangerter, an Assistant District Attorney in Palmer, wrote in charging documents that an ensuing autopsy showed no signs of intoxication in Taber. Bangerter wrote that Thompson told troopers she had brought her son and seven of his friends to a nearby cabin for a birthday party the night before.

“Thompson stated that she allowed the teenagers at the party to drink a couple Mike’s Hard Lemonades, which were at the house when she got there. She estimated that they drank about 24 of them,” Bangerter wrote.

She also said she smoked marijuana with them and that there was vodka and whiskey in the freezer. After the party everyone went to sleep. In the morning, the teens went for a drive.

“Thompson stated that she told the parents of the friends invited to the party that there was going to be drinking at the party and that the parents were fine with that,” Bangerter wrote.

At first Thompson told troopers she hid the keys from the kids and didn’t know how they got them.

A month later, “Amy Thompson said she held the keys up in her hand while telling (her son) he shouldn’t drive, then (her son) took the keys out of her hand and they all got in the van,” according to Bangerter.

Thompson’s sentence includes 180 days of suspended jail time. She will be on probation for two years, during which any run-ins with the law could make her liable to serve that time. She could also be liable for $4,000 in suspended fines.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.