Troopers and the Alaska Bureau of Highway Patrol responded to a two-car collision at mile 50.5 on the Parks Highway at 6:08 pm on Saturday inside of the Traffic Safety Corridor and conducted an investigation, the trooper dispatch reports.

When the units arrived at the scene and began their investigation, they found that the crash was the direct result of a road rage incident. The investigation revealed that 25-year-old Big Lake resident Jeremiah L. Desilva, who was driving a 1993 Dodge Dakota, and the driver of a Ford Ranger, had gotten into a verbal confrontation just off of the Parks Highway, and the confrontation escalated and moved to the Parks Highway.

When they entered the Parks Highway, Desilva rammed the Ford Ranger several times. Desilva eventually rammed the Ranger in the rear quarter panel and the impact caused the Ranger to yaw, and go into a broadside skid. The ranger left the roadway and rolled. 

After causing the Ranger to roll, Desilva left the scene in his vehicle. But, troopers would quickly locate Desilva. When contacted, troopers would find that Desilva was under the influence of alcohol and driving with his license revoked.

The two occupants of the Ford Ranger were transported to the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

Desilva was charged with DUI, Driving While License Revoked, Assault III x2, Assault IV, Reckless Driving, and Leaving the Scene of a Collision.

Desilva was transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility where he was remanded.

Troopers say that the investigation is continuing, and that drugs and alcohol were factors in the incident.

  Alaska, arrest, assault, bureau of highway patrol, collision, investigation, jeremiah desilva, leaving the scene, road rage, roll over, trtoopers