Palmer man arrested for vehicle theft, DUI

PALMER — Alaska State Troopers allege a man was driving drunk in a stolen Subaru when he put himself and another person in the hospital last week.

According to a trooper press statement, a two-car wreck was reported at mile 1.4 E. Edgerton Parks Road at 6:11 p.m. last Tues.

Troopers say that Joshua West, 31, of Palmer, was eastbound driving a blue 2005 Subaru Impreza when he lost control, crossed the centerline and crashed head-on with a blue 2000 Ford Expedition driven by Loren P. Aber, 64, of Wasilla.

Troopers say that West and a passenger in the Ford were both hospitalized and that West had stolen the Subaru earlier that evening from a family member.

The next day West was discharged from the hospital and immediately arrested for assault, vehicle theft, drunken driving, driving on a revoked license and driving a car without an ignition interlock device in violation of a court order.

His bail was set at $25,000. Jail records Monday morning showed he was still incarcerated at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility.