No charges in fatal crash that killed 3

PALMER — Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said Monday charges will not be filed against a driver who caused a crash that killed three people riding motorcycles near Mile 37, Glenn Highway May 3, 2014.

Killed in a crash were James D. and Sabrina A. Carlyle, of Wasilla, and Elaine J. Loew, 63, of Anchorage.

Alaska State Troopers say they concluded their investigation into that crash and forwarded the file to the Palmer District Attorney’s office.

Kalytiak said assistant district attorney Shawn Traini reviewed troopers’ investigation and declined prosecution.

“No alcohol or drugs involved, and no evidence of phone use at the time,” Kalytiak wrote in an email.

He said Palmer grand juries have a history of declining to indict for traffic violations and/or inattentiveness resulting in death, which also weighed into the decision not to prosecute.

The crash occurred when a driver in a pickup stopped to make a left-hand turn and he was struck from behind by a van.

Trooper spokesman Tim DeSpain said at the time that the couples were riding in tandem down the two-lane highway when the Ford was pushed into their path.

DeSpain said the fourth rider, Elaine Loew’s husband Paul, was not injured.

Contact Heather A. Resz at 352-2268 or heather.resz@frontiersman.com.