Unalaska, AK – Felony charges have been filed against the driver of the pickup truck that crashed last Tuesday into a shipping container near Dutch Harbor. Police have identified the driver as 28-year-old David L. Woolley of Kodiak. He had been the engineer aboard the Kodiak-based F/V Irene H, which had been longlining for halibut.

Unalaska Public Safety Sgt. Mike Holman says two counts of first degree assault have been filed as well as misdemeanor charges of reckless endangerment.

"The district attorney recommended charging assault in the first degree," Holman said. "And then reckless endangerment charges, the district attorney wanted to file those because of the nature of the driving prior to the accident was likely to cause injury."

Passenger Steven Lodholm of Pueblo, Colorado had suffered facial injuries. Officers found him on the floor of the Grand Aleutian Hotel at about 3:41 a.m.
Also injured with a broken jaw, arm and internal injuries was 25-year-old Onicefor Basargin of Homer. A third passenger, 25-year-old Thomas Vigil of Gig Harbor, Washington did not appear as seriously injured and denied medical treatment.

The vehicle had been a rented Ford F-150 which the police report described as a total loss. Woolley is also charged with tampering of evidence.

Woolley and the others had left the scene of the crash off East Point Road, some made their way to the Grand Aleutian Hotel. Woolley called a friend for a ride from the Safeway parking lot.

"We served a search warrant on his vessel where he had hidden the clothes he'd been wearing during the accident," Holman said. "They had trace evidence of the air bag that was deployed during the accident."

The police report described numerous liquor bottles found inside the truck and those involved appeared highly intoxicated. Woolley, who was allegedly driving on a suspended license, has also been charged with drunk under the influence.

Despite having a fractured neck, police say Woolley gave clinic doctors and nurses the slip by fleeing his hospital bed with IVs still attached.

"He decided he didn't want to be there," Holman said. Woolley caught a ride back to this boat where police found him, he added.

Woolley, Basargin and Lodholm were medevaced to Anchorage that afternoon. Woolley has not been arraigned; police say they are now preparing an arrest warrant.