Alaska State Troopers report William Brucher charged with DUI felony for killing Brandy Reed in head-on crash; the following DUI arrests for Dec. 16, 2017; Michael Lanz racks up 4th DUI when he dumped Mustang into ditch

Alaska State Trooper

William Brucher charged with DUI felony for killing Brandy Reed in head-on crash

Alaska court records reveal that the driver of a Ford Expedition that killed Brandy Reed in a DUI crash on Dec. 13, 2017, was previously convicted of DUI.

According to Alaska State Troopers, on 12/13/17, at approximately 1923 hours, the Alaska State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision near the intersection of the Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Skip Circle in Wasilla.

The investigation revealed William Brucher, age 35, of Wasilla, was driving west on the Palmer-Wasilla Hwy. in his 1998 Ford Expedition when his vehicle entered the oncoming lane and collided head-on with a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban. As a result of the accident, passenger Brandy Reed, age 42, of Wasilla, became entrapped in the Suburban.

After Brandy was extricated from the Suburban by EMS, she was transported to Mat-Su Regional Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries and died.

All other passengers in the Suburban were treated for minor injuries and later released from Mat-Su Regional Hospital. Brucher was investigated and arrested for DUI. Next of kin has been notified and the SME responded to Mat-Su Regional Hospital for Brandy’s remains. Investigation continues.

Brucher, William Michael 

– Defendant

Charge # 1 :
AMC928020A – Misdemeanor – Not Classified AMC9.28.020(A): Driving While Intoxicated
Original Charge
AMC928020A AMC9.28.020(A): Driving While Intoxicated (Misdemeanor – Not Classified)
Offense Location
Anchorage
Date of Offense
12/05/2006
Party Charge Disposition
Disposition Date
Disposition
01/12/2007
Guilty Conviction After No Contest Plea
Financial Summary
Cost Type Amount Owed Amount Paid Amount Adjusted Amount Outstanding
$3,345.00 $500.00 $2,845.00 $0.00
Fine $3,000.00 $500.00  $2,500.00 $0.00
Cost of Imprisonment $270.00 $0.00  $270.00 $0.00
Surcharge $75.00 $0.00  $75.00

DUI Killer William Brucher given Public Defender, Claims Income of Less Than $14,500; Victim a Mother of Four Children

Erik Reed, whose wife died in a head-on collision Wednesday, speaks during a Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017, court hearing. William Brucher, 35, of Chugiak, participated by video conference. Photo courtesy of Anchorage Daily News – Zaz Hollander

From Anchorage Daily News:

Alaska State Troopers say William Brucher, a 35-year-old from Chugiak, was driving drunk when he crossed the center line just after 7 p.m. and hit the Suburban head-on. A breath alcohol test taken nearly two hours later came in at more than twice Alaska’s legal limit for driving, court documents show.

Brucher’s Ford Expedition came on “at a high rate of speed,” Reed said in an interview Thursday. “And I had nowhere to go.”

Brucher was arraigned on charges of manslaughter and driving under the influence at an emotional hearing in Palmer court Thursday afternoon attended by Reed and a half-dozen other friends and family.

A complaint filed Thursday in Palmer District Court says he was visibly intoxicated when a trooper talked to him. The man smelled of alcohol, his speech was slurred, and he was stumbling and wobbly, the complaint by trooper Fred Parker said. A breath test done 1 1/2 hours later found that Brucher’s blood alcohol content was .196, the complaint said. That is more than double the .08 legal limit for driving in Alaska.

Brucher has a drunken driving conviction from 2006 in Anchorage, court records show. He pleaded no contest in early 2007 in that case.

Troopers said they responded at 7:23 p.m. to Wednesday’s crash, which occurred near the intersection of Palmer-Wasilla Highway and Skip Circle. The two-lane highway is one of the busiest arteries in the Mat-Su area.  MORE

Brucher, William Michael 

– Defendant

Charge # 1 :
AS2835030A1-V1 – Class A Misdemeanor AS28.35.030(a)(1): DUI- Alcohol Or Contr Subst
Original Charge
AS2835030A1-V1 AS28.35.030(a)(1): DUI- Alcohol Or Contr Subst (Class A Misdemeanor)
12/14/2017
ATN #
115874739
Tracking #
001
Offense Location
Wasilla
Date of Offense
12/13/2017
Brucher, William Michael

– Defendant

Charge # 2 :
AS1141120 – Class A Felony AS11.41.120: Manslaughter
Original Charge
AS1141120 AS11.41.120: Manslaughter (Class A Felony)
115874739
Tracking #
002
Offense Location
Wasilla
Date of Offense
12/13/2017
12/14/2017 Initial Charging Document Filed Initial Charging Document Filed
12/14/2017 Media Coverage / Application and Approval Media Coverage / Application and Approval – ADN
12/14/2017 Information Filed AMENDED Information Adding CTN 002 (ppwk) Attorney: District Attorney (3PA) (DA3PA)
12/14/2017 Attorney Information Attorney Information Attorney Public Defender Agency (3PA) representing Defendant Brucher, William Michael as of 12/14/2017
12/14/2017 Temporary Order Temporary Order – Bail $25,000 c/c & CATP

Alaska State Troopers report the following DUI arrests for Dec. 16, 2017

On 12/13/17 at approximately 1649 hours, the Alaska State Troopers contacted 59-year-old Jimmy Moody of Wasilla on a traffic stop on the Parks Highway near Pittman Road. The investigation revealed Moody was driving his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.  Troopers arrested Moody and transported him to Mat-Su Pre-Trial.

THREE-TIME DUI OFFENDER MICHAEL LANZ EARNS ONE MORE DUI ARREST WHEN HE DUMPED A MUSTANG INTO A DITCH

On 12/15/17 at 2215 hours, AST responded to a vehicle in the ditch on McMillan Drive in Wasilla and contacted Michael Lanz, age 28 of Wasilla, next to a white 1998 Ford Mustang. The investigation revealed Lanz was driving under the influence of alcohol and drove the Mustang into the ditch. Lanz had 3 prior convictions for DUI in the preceding 7 years and his license was revoked for a previous Felony DUI conviction. Lanz was arrested for the original charges of Felony DUI and DWLR. Lanz also failed to provide a breath sample for the Datamaster and was also charged with Felony Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test. Lanz was remanded to the MSPT facility where he was held on $5,000 bail with a court-approved third-party condition.

On December 15, 2017, at about 1615 hours, Alaska State Troopers responded to a motor vehicle collision involving two motor vehicles.  The investigation revealed Donny Haag, 37 of Big Lake, was operating his 2009 Silver Dodge 2500 pickup truck when he collided with a 2010 Hyundai Elantra occupied by four individuals.  One of the juvenile passengers received minor injuries and was released from the scene.  Further investigation revealed Haag was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages.  Haag was arrested and remanded to Mat-Su Pretrial without incident.

On 12/15/17 at approximately 1141 hours Troopers responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision on Hollywood Rd. at the intersection with EZ St.  Investigation revealed Robert Snider, age 64 of Wasilla was Westbound on Hollywood Rd. when he lost control of his 1989 Chevy pickup truck and struck a 1999 Jeep operated by Clinton Kerr age 43 of Wasilla.  Snider was subsequently arrested for DUI and remanded to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility on $1000 bail.

On 12/15/17 at approximately 1910 hours, Tok AST contacted 45-year-old Mentasta resident, Carson John while attempting to serve a subpoena at a residence. Subsequent investigation revealed John to be DUI after he showed up on scene intoxicated and operating a vehicle. Further investigation revealed him to have No Valid Operators License and to have an open container of vodka in the passenger seat. John was arrested without incident, issued two citations for NVOL and open container and held at Tok jail until the next morning and was released on conditions of release.