Alaska: DUI driver Xeng Yang twice legal limit for booze and positive for pot in Eagle River crash; Yong Lor died

Blood alcohol level of DUI driver was twice the legal limit reports KTUU

Blood alcohol level of DUI driver was twice the legal limit reports KTUU

UPDATE from KTUU

Police say 22-year-old Xeng Yang’s blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit when his car struck an oncoming Toyota Rav4 at 70 mph May 27 on the Old Glenn Highway.  The crash killed a passenger in the Subaru, Yong Lor, who was also 22.

Two others in the Rav4 suffered minor injuries. Yang was taken to an Anchorage hospital after the crash. Blood samples showed his blood-alcohol level to be 0.159 — compared to the legal limit of 0.08 — about 45 minutes after the collision, according to charges filed Wednesday in District Court.

Yang, who was being held Monday at the Anchorage jail, also tested positive for the presence of cannabinoids, police say.

The crash was first reported at 8:16 p.m. near the Old Glenn Highway intersection with Del’s Lane.

Alaska State Police on patrol

According to Anchorage Police, on Wednesday, May 27, 2015 at 8:17PM, Anchorage Police responded to a fatal car collision in Eagle River which occurred on the Old Glenn Highway near Monastery Drive.  A 2003 white Subaru Legacy, driven by 22-year-old Xeng Yang, was traveling northbound on the Old Glenn Highway when it crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a 2012 blue Toyota Rav4 which was traveling southbound.  The Subaru burst into flames.

The passenger in the Subaru, 22-year-old Yong Lor, died at the scene.  Xeng Yang was transported to a local hospital, and at the time of this release, is still hospitalized.  The extent of his injuries is not yet known.  Due to the damage done to the Subaru, it was not readily apparent whether or not either Yang or Lor were wearing their seatbelts.  That is a question that will hopefully be answered during the vehicle examination.  Alcohol and speed are suspected contributing factors to the crash.

The two occupants of the Toyota were both wearing their seatbelts. They did go to the hospital on their own to get checked for minor injuries related to the seatbelts and airbag deployment.

Police Traffic Investigators worked the scene, and re-opened the highway at 12:58AM Thursday morning.  No citations or charges have been filed at this time as the investigation is still on-going.  As this particular car crash demonstrates, Anchorage Police remind the public that not only is wearing a safety belt the law, but it absolutely saves lives.  Anchorage Police are currently running a grant-funded Click-it-or-Ticket campaign from May 18th through the 31st.