ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Anchorage Police have released the identity of the driver connected in the New Year's day vehicle-pedestrians crash on Monday.
Police believe alcohol was a factor in a vehicle-pedestrian collision Downtown early Sunday morning that left two people seriously injured, including a 24-year-old woman in critical condition, before 21-year-old Tex Daniels II, of Chugiak, allegedly attempted to flee the scene.
APD spokesperson Marlene Lammers says dispatchers received a 911 call at about 1:15 a.m. reporting that two pedestrians -- Ashley Marie Brotherton and her friend Clayton Tyler Wilbanks, both 24 and from Anchorage -- had been struck by a vehicle at the intersection of 11th Avenue and I Street. Witnesses say the two were headed north on the sidewalk on the west side of I Street when they were hit from behind by a Dodge pickup truck, which was seen driving erratically before it hit them.
Brotherton and Wilbanks were taken to local hospitals. Brotherton is in critical condition with several injuries including a traumatic head injury, while Wilbanks is in stable condition.
Daniels attempted to flee the scene, but his truck was stuck on a snow bank after striking Brotherton and Wilbanks. Two men pulled the driver from the truck and held him down until officers arrived.
Lammers says Daniels is not presently in custody. Investigators say he will likely be charged and identified once toxicology reports are returned.
An investigation of the crash is continuing, and anyone with information about it is asked to call APD investigator Rick Steiding at 786-2669.
