Troopers catch up with fleeing suspect

PALMER — Losing his left front wheel didn’t stop an alleged drunk driver from fleeing the scene of an accident.

But Alaska State Troopers report he didn’t get far.

According to an AST press statement, the crash on the Old Glenn Highway near Marth Road was reported at 10:42 p.m., March 30. A pickup pulling off of a side street hit a 2007 Pontiac Sunfire, then fled.

“Troopers located the vehicle parked in a lot near the scene and observed that the left front wheel was off of the truck and it was unoccupied,” according to the press statement.

Troopers identified the driver as Samuel L. Faller Jr., 39, of Palmer. They found him at a nearby home.

Everyone in the Sunfire was buckled up, but one of them was taken to the hospital, treated and released.

Faller was arrested for assault, drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident. He was jailed on $10,000 bail at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility. Jail records Thursday afternoon showed he was still incarcerated.