Teen critically hurt in Tuesday crash

Woman charged with first-degree assault and drunken driving

By STEVE KADEL-Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- An Anchorage nurse was arrested Tuesday for felony assault after the car she was driving collided with a vehicle driven by a 16-year-old girl, causing extensive injuries to the juvenile.

Susan Marie Jokiel, 36, was charged with first-degree assault, a class A felony, and with driving under the influence. Both drivers were taken to Valley Hospital for treatment after the 4:22 p.m. crash on the Glenn Highway near Palmer Auto Mall. The juvenile had to be extricated from the vehicle and was listed in critical condition.

The girl suffered a lacerated spleen, a potential life-threatening phneumothorax, a shattered left hip, head injuries and fractured ribs, according to charging documents. She was placed in the intensive care unit.

Jokiel complained of pain in one foot, and was placed in a neck brace by medics. The injuries to both people are serious, charging documents said.

Jokiel's blood-alcohol level registered .104 more than two hours after the crash, Palmer police officer Donna Anthony wrote in an affidavit. Jokiel's eyes were bloodshot and watery, and she had a mild odor of alcohol when interviewed by police at the crash site, charging documents said. Jokiel failed field sobriety tests.

Police found two open cans of beer in plain view on the passenger-side floor boards of Jokiel's car, charging documents said.

First-degree assault carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Jokiel was lodged at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility in lieu of $10,000 bail.