Teen dies of injuries from downtown crash

WASILLA — A teen severely injured in a crash on the Parks Highway Monday died in an Anchorage hospital of his injuries Tuesday.

According to Wasilla Police Chief Gene Belden, the crash was reported Monday at 12:50 p.m.

Paul Owens Jr., 33, of Wasilla, was northbound on the highway driving a 2003 Ford pickup when he tried to make a turn onto Knik-Goose Bay Road. Belden said Owens’ turn put him in the path of a 2000 Ford Expedition driven by Cassidie Moffet, 18, of Wasilla.

Moffet and three passengers were injured. The worst off was Zacharia Sharlow, 18, who was airlifted to Anchorage while everyone else in the car was taken by ambulance to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center.

Central Mat-Su Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael Keenan said on Monday that the crash sent Moffet’s Expedition into one of the large poles that holds up the stoplights along the highway. He said that Sharlow was in one of the rear passenger seats, seated nearest to the part of the car that impacted with the pole.

Belden said the investigation into the crash, as it is any time someone dies in a traffic accident, is likely to be a lengthy process. He said blood samples were sent to Anchorage Thursday for toxicology reports. Such reports are standard in investigations into fatal crashes. Belden said he had no information one way or the other as to what those reports might contain when they’re returned.

Contact reporter Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.