A woman was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital on Wednesday afternoon for injuries she suffered in a crash, shortly after she hit another vehicle and left the scene, according to police.
The 35-year-old woman’s name has not yet been released yet as the investigation is ongoing and charges are pending, said Lt. Krag Campbell in a news release.
The initial hit-and-run crash took place at the Auke Bay roundabout after 1 p.m., Campbell said.
“It was reported that two vehicles were involved in the crash, but one of the vehicles did not stop afterwards, and continued driving inbound on Glacier Highway,” Campbell said. “Responding officers looked for the fleeing vehicle, but it was not immediately located.”
The vehicle the driver struck was a Toyota Prius driven by a 17-year-old boy. The boy complained of pain sustained during the crash, Campbell said, but declined to be transported by ambulance. The Prius was likely totaled, Campbell said.
“A short time later, the Juneau Police Department received a report of a single vehicle crashing into the guardrail on Egan Drive at Vanderbilt Hill Road,” Campbell said. “The vehicle involved in the crash was a black Chevrolet Equinox, being driven by a 35-year-old female.”
The Equinox was determined to be the same vehicle involved in the hit-and-run, Campbell said.
“The preliminary investigation showed that the Prius had been driving outbound on Glacier Highway, approaching the roundabout and the Equinox was travelling inbound on Glacier Highway, just after the roundabout. The Equinox was travelling at a high rate of speed and was attempting to pass a vehicle in front of them, crossing into the outbound lane in front of the Prius,” Campbell said. “The driver of the Prius attempted to swerve to avoid a collision, but as the Equinox passed the vehicle in front of them, they collided with the driver side left corner panel of the Prius, causing the collision.”
Due to the need to medevac the woman to the hospital, Campbell said, it will not be known if the woman was driving under the influence until lab results come back. Charges for causing the crash and leaving the scene of the crime are forthcoming for the incident, Campbell said.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
