Child dies after intoxicated mother rolls ATV, troopers say

PALMER, Alaska (KTUU/Gray News) - One child was killed and three others injured after an intoxicated woman rolled a side-by-side onto its roof Thursday, according to the Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers were notified of the crash in the Jim Creek Recreation Area around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, according to an affidavit.

One 10-year-old was found to have suffered massive head trauma, according to troopers. After 30 minutes of CPR, the child was pronounced dead at the scene. The three other children were taken to a Mat-Su area hospital for treatment and were expected to be OK.

The driver identified herself as 32-year-old Wasilla resident Hannah Lebel.

Troopers said there was an odor of alcohol in the general area and around the vehicle. They said they later found six empty beer cans and several cases of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle.

Two of the children, including the one who was killed, were Lebel’s. Two others were those of a family friend.

Lebel allegedly admitted to drinking “several” alcoholic drinks while at the recreation area, including three beers.

She allegedly said she was driving in and out of the water repeatedly, as the children enjoyed the water spraying onto the vehicle. She also said all four children were wearing their seatbelts but not wearing helmets, and she was unsure why the vehicle rolled over, but theorized it may have hit a bump or rock under water.

A witness at the scene said they heard Lebel say a child said during the drive that they were going too fast. Troopers determined the vehicle’s tracks suggested it was driving at a high rate of speed, and no one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt, as all front belts were still buckled when troopers investigated.

Lebel was arrested on charges of third-degree assault, fourth-degree assault, criminally negligent homicide, driving under the influence and manslaughter. She was taken to and remanded at Mat-Su Pretrial.