Valley man dies four days after wreck

PALMER — A Wasilla man pulled from a car wreck on the Old Glenn Highway last week has died of his injuries.

Joshua A. Brown, 29, of Wasilla, was the passenger in a 2001 Honda Accord driving north.

Troopers say the driver, Edward N. Domrude II, 23, of Wasilla, lost control heading around a curve and the Accord rolled into the ditch. The car came to rest on it’s roof back on the highway near Mile 9.9.

Troopers were called to respond to the accident at 5:58 a.m. Saturday. There they found that Domrude was able to free himself but Brown was still trapped inside.

Brown was freed from the wreck and both men were taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. Brown was later transferred to Alaska Regional Medical Center. At 8:55 a.m. Wednesday, troopers got word that he had died.

The trooper press release relating to the accident says alcohol and prescription medications likely factored into the crash. Whether that means Domrude will be charged with a crime is still unclear.

Alaska State Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said troopers were still investigating the case and are waiting on toxicology reports, which turn up evidence of drugs and alcohol.

“The toxicology takes six to eight weeks to come back,” she said.

Charges don’t necessarily have to wait that long if there’s other evidence. Nor do troopers necessarily have to wait for charges to be filed to make an arrest.

Peters said she was unsure of Domrude’s medical status and that could play a role in how the decision is made. Once a person is under arrest he becomes a ward of the state, which is then liable for his medical costs.

Calls to Alaska Regional Hospital Thursday afternoon indicated Domrude was not listed as a patient there.

As of Thursday afternoon, court databases showed no open case against Domrude.