Patrol car rear-ended, 3 sent to hospital

Alaska State Troopers (AST) continue an investigation into an early Sunday accident in Palmer that sent one trooper and two other individuals to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

According to AST dispatch, troopers responded to Glenn Highway, mile 49 around 1:16 a.m. to assist with a motor vehicle collision involving a patrol car. Reports indicate an AST patrol car was northbound on Glenn Highway when it was struck from behind by a 2008 Ford F150 pickup driven by 32-year old Othniel Oomittuk of Palmer.

Police state Oomittuk continued driving away and lost control of his vehicle attempting to make a left-hand turn. The pickup then left the roadway coming to rest at the bottom of an embankment. Oomittuk and a passenger were removed from the truck by EMS and transported the Mat-Su Regional. A trooper sustained minor injury was also transported to Mat-Su Regional and later released. The patrol car sustained approximately $2,000 in damages and was towed from the scene.