Two drivers hit pedestrians and flee

MAT-SU — Alaska State Troopers and Palmer police say they both investigated unrelated hit-and-run accidents last week in which pedestrians were injured.

On Thursday, Palmer police were called to the scene of a hit-and-run in which a 12-year-old boy riding his bike was struck by a heavy-set man with a gray and brown beard driving a red Dodge car with Lythia dealer plates.

Police say the boy suffered a minor injury to his knee and the driver fled. Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Jason Crockett at 745-4811.

Then, on Saturday, troopers were called to a hit-and-run in Trapper Creek. A black Ford Ranger with oversized tires hit a pedestrian near the Trapper Creek Bluegrass Festival, which, according to its Web site, is held yearly at Boots Bison Ranch at the end of Bradley Road.

Troopers say witnesses fingered the driver as a resident of the Trapper Creek area who was highly intoxicated at the time.

The victim, a 25-year-old Texas man, was hospitalized with serious injuries troopers described as not life-threatening.

With the victim on the way to the hospital, Talkeetna troopers, wildlife troopers, and an state park ranger searched the area for the suspect vehicle, which they eventually found at a home on Bradley Road.

Troopers say the driver was Rodney Humphrey, 48, of Trapper Creek, who was found passed out inside the home. Troopers say he unsuccessfully tried to resist their attempts to arrest him.

Humphrey was jailed at the Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility and charged with assault, leaving the scene of an accident, DUI, resisting arrest and driving without a license. His bail was set at $25,000 and he will need to find someone to watch over him before he can be released. As of Monday afternoon, he was still in jail.

Car tangles with semi

on Parks Highway

WILLOW — Alaska State Troopers say a harrowing car-vs.-semi wreck near Mile 70 of the Parks Highway was just one of five they had to respond to in the area Sunday.

Troopers say Lionel Goodrich, 22, of Palmer, caused the wreck at 2:09 p.m. when he cut through a parking lot in order to turn from Willow-Fishhook Road onto the highway in a two-door Honda.

Goodrich’s turn sent him into the path of a semi pulling two trailers loaded with goods headed to Fairbanks.

The semi T-boned the car, ejecting Goodrich, who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, then tipped over, sliding 200 feet on its side with its first trailer. The second trailer remained upright.

Goodrich and the truck driver, Daryl Spaeth, 55, of Anchorage, were hospitalized at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with injuries troopers said were not life-threatening. The truck leaked 100 gallons of diesel fuel and hindered traffic flow.

Troopers say most of the weekend’s wrecks were attributable to impatient drivers, though two were the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel.