Troopers' attempt to pull over a pickup on the Parks Highway near Willow late Monday prompted a high-speed chase that extended almost to Talkeetna before the vehicle was stopped.
Troopers said in a Tuesday dispatch that driver Logan Austin, 25, and passenger Sandra Austin, 23, were arrested on charges including violating conditions of their probation in the incident, which began at about 9:45 p.m. near Mile 67 of the highway. When troopers first stopped their maroon 2000 Ford pickup for speeding, the duo allegedly gave false names.
"The trooper had the driver step out of the vehicle so he could further investigate the driver's identity," troopers wrote. "(T)he driver produced a can of pepper spray and attempted to spray the trooper."
When Logan Austin, who had an outstanding $20,000 arrest warrant, got back into the pickup and the two drove away, troopers began to follow them as they drove recklessly along the highway headed north.
"At one point, the passenger took control of the vehicle and (Logan) Austin crawled into the bed of the truck," troopers wrote. "(Logan) began to throw heavy tools and items at the pursuing trooper vehicle. Eventually, he crawled back into the cab of the truck and resumed driving."
Spike strips deflated the truck's driver's-side tires near Mile 104.5 of the Parks, but it was able to continue nearly 40 miles north on its rims until it crashed into a ditch near Mile 139.5.
Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters didn't immediately have word on how fast the pickup was going during the chase or whether any of the troopers' vehicles involved were damaged.
Neither of the Austins were injured in the crash. Troopers arrested them and held them at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility without bail.