Drunken driver hits home, causes $20K damage

Published 2:30 pm Tuesday, July 30, 2019

A drunken driver caused about $20,000 worth of damage to property in the Mendenhall Valley Tuesday morning after crashing into a residence, police said.

No one was injured in the crash at the home, which took place in the 4400 block of Mendenhall Boulevard at about 2 a.m., the Juneau Police Department said in a release.

“Officers arrived on scene and located a silver Dodge truck that appeared to have driven through a fence, crossed the grass and struck a vehicle in the driveway before running into the garage door,” the release said, adding that the truck was found unoccupied.

Police say they found the driver of the vehicle — identified as 24 year old Erik J. Pedersen — outside a residence on Gail Avenue about an hour later. He was arrested for driving under the influence and failure to give immediate notice of accident. He was taken to the Lemon Creek Correctional Center and held on $500 bail.

The $20,000 damage estimate includes damage for the stop sign, two vehicles, a fence and the residence.