Alaska News

Trooper receives minor injuries in Delta Junction crash

An Alaska state trooper in Delta Junction, who was struck by an SUV this summer, was injured again over the weekend in a car crash after responding to the scene of a moose carcass.

According to a Tuesday trooper dispatch, Trooper Ryan Mau responded to a dead moose at about 9:15 p.m. Saturday and called a local charity to retrieve the carcass. Denis Khatman of Delta Junction, the charity responder, parked his car on the eastbound shoulder of the Alaska Highway, near Mile 1421, with its hazard lights flashing.

Then 20-year-old Ivan Rybak, also of Delta Junction, hit the parked charity vehicle with his sedan. Rybak's car then ricocheted into the patrol car, with the trooper in the driver's seat.

The patrol car went into the ditch, and the trooper was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital in an ambulance to be treated for minor injuries.

No charges had been filed against Rybak as of Wednesday morning.

According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Mau also suffered minor injuries in August when he was hit by a 2012 GMC Arcadia while directing traffic at the Deltana Fair Parade. He arrested the SUV's driver, 61-year-old Debra Darland, on charges including failure to stop at the direction of a peace officer and third-degree assault.

There were no other reported injuries in Saturday's crash. Troopers said they're continuing to investigate.

Megan Edge

Megan Edge is a former reporter for Alaska Dispatch and Alaska Dispatch News.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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