Teen crashes stolen vehicle

BUTTE -- According to the Alaska State Troopers, two Valley teens raced down the Old Glenn Highway, near the Butte, early Monday morning in two stolen vehicles.

Trooper David Herrell said the race ended when John Pearl Smith, 18 of Palmer, lost control of the vehicle he was driving and drove into a dirt embankment, crashed into a powerline pole and flipped the vehicle over.

Herrell said the powerline pole fell over, leaving live electrical lines strewn across the road at Mile 14 Old Glenn Hwy. According to Herrell, medics from Butte Ambulance Service responded to the scene and tried to remove Smith from the overturned vehicle.

At first the medics were unsuccessful in removing Smith and they briefly went back to their ambulance. When they returned, to try to free Smith again, the overturned vehicle burst into flames.

Herrell said the medics didn't know, but when they went to their ambulance, Smith had actually escaped from his car just before it burst into flames.

According to Herrell, Smith then climbed into the passenger side of the ambulance, as the medics were preoccupied with the burning vehicle.

Smith then attempted to drive off with the ambulance, according to Herrell. Herrell said Smith drove only about 100 yards before the ambulance got tangled up in the loose powerlines, which were lying in the road.

Smith was transported Friday morning to Valley Hospital for a ruptured spleen and other injuries. As of press time, Herrell said Smith had not yet been charged with any crimes.

The 16-year-old Wasilla juvenile who was racing with Smith was charged with DUI, criminal mischief, reckless driving and vehicle theft.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.