A Soldotna man is facing murder and other felony charges after allegedly fleeing from the scene of a rollover crash that authorities said killed his passenger and injured two others in the car.
Alaska State Troopers said 50-year-old David Casey was driving in the early morning hours of Saturday after leaving a Kenai bar. Court filings said he lost control of a 2017 Audi on a curve and rolled over, fatally injuring a passenger who was ejected from the vehicle on Forest Lane outside Soldotna.
Police said 27-year-old Samuel Helmuth, of Idaho, died at the scene when the vehicle rolled onto him. The other two passengers reportedly escaped serious injury.
Authorities said Casey fled the scene on foot. Troopers later found him at his home, where he waved a handgun at himself and his wife before surrendering to troopers without further incident. Troopers said he smelled of alcohol and a blood draw was ordered.
He was arrested and remanded to Wildwood Pretrial Center in Kenai. He’s facing felony charges including second degree murder, drunk driving and assault charges for allegedly threatening others with a 10mm handgun.
Court records don’t list an attorney. As of Tuesday Casey remains jailed and is scheduled to appear in court on July 28.
It was the first of two fatal car accidents Saturday. Later that evening, three people were killed in a head-on collision on the Kenai Spur Highway that also injured four others.
