Alcohol a Factor in Fatal Alaska Crash

July 2, 2013

Anchorage Police are investigating what they say is the Alaska city’s first alcohol-related fatal crash in more than a year.

The early Sunday accident left one person dead, 20-year-old Citari Townes-Sweatt, who was driving one of the vehicles.

Authorities report a speeding vehicle ran a red light and “t-boned” the vehicle driven by Townes-Sweatt at around 5 a.m. at the intersection of Boniface Parkway and Debarr Road.

There were a total of 9 occupants between the two vehicles.

Police say the other driver, 22-year-old Lane Douglas Wyatt of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, is suspected to being under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. He has been charged with manslaughter, assault and operating under the influence.

The last alcohol related DUI in Anchorage occurred on April 30, 2012.