During the early morning hours of Saturday, at 5:35 am, an Alaska State Trooper with the Bureau of Highway Patrol attempted to stop a Ford truck after it almost collided with the trooper.

The trooper was traveling eastbound on Bogard Road near Copper Creek when he observed the Ford truck traveling westbound. The truck then entered into the eastbound lane directly in front of the trooper.

The trooper took evasive action to avoid a collision, then turned around to attempt to stop the truck.

As the trooper sped up to the Ford that was still in the eastbound lane traveling in the wrong direction, a four-door sedan traveling in the eastbound lane appeared.

The Ford collided with the sedan head-on near the intersection by a local restaurant.

Central Mat-Su Fire and EMS was requested and immediately dispatched to the scene of the accident. Both of the drivers of the vehicles needed to be extricated from their vehicles, and then transported to Mat-Su Regional Hospital to be treated for their injuries.

The investigation into the accident closed Bogard Road for an hour.

The driver of the truck was identified as 46-year-old Eagle River resident Eric T. St. Pierre. Further investigation found that St. Pierre had a warrant for his arrest on charges of failing to report to do jail time for a prior DUI. He was also driving with a revoked license.

The driver of the sedan continues to be treated for his injuries.

St.Pierre was released from the hospital at 9:10 am after being treated and was promptly arrested and transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility.

Troopers say that alcohol was a factor in the accident and as the investigation progresses, they expect more charges to be filed against St. Pierre.