Crime & Courts

Troopers cite 2 motorcyclists for driving 90 mph and faster on Seward Highway

Officers cited two motorcyclists, both accused of driving at high speed on the busy Seward Highway, on Saturday afternoon, with one pursuit reaching speeds of 130 mph, the Alaska State Troopers said.

No injuries connected to the incidents were reported.

The first incident began at 1:50 p.m., when troopers stopped a motorcycle speeding more than 90 mph near Mile 63 of the Seward Highway, close to the Granite Creek Campground.

The driver, Aenoi Phetsalat, 32, had his driver's license revoked for a DUI, according to a trooper dispatch.

"Phetsalat was issued a misdemeanor citation to later appear in court for driving with a revoked driver's license and released on scene," troopers wrote.

Then, around 5 p.m. Saturday troopers in the same area tried to stop motorcyclists who were driving more than 90 mph around Mile 65 of the highway.

The motorcycles sped up to more than 130 mph, "passing motorists in no passing zones," troopers said in an online dispatch. "The pursuit was discontinued."

ADVERTISEMENT

About five minutes later, troopers found one of the motorcyclists near Mile 2 of the Hope Highway.

Matthew Ryley Adams, 21, of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson was given a misdemeanor citation for failure to stop at the direction of a police officer.

He was released at the scene.

A troopers spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a question about whether either Phetsalat or Adams would face additional charges such as reckless driving.

Michelle Theriault Boots

Michelle Theriault Boots is a longtime reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. She focuses on in-depth stories about the intersection of public policy and Alaskans' lives. Before joining the ADN in 2012, she worked at daily newspapers up and down the West Coast and earned a master's degree from the University of Oregon.

ADVERTISEMENT