Police say a man who stole a pickup from a business in South Anchorage crashed the truck on the Glenn Highway early Sunday morning. Once the vehicle caught fire, the man abandoned it and stopped the driver of another vehicle to get a ride, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
In a release later Sunday, police stated at 3:52 a.m. officers responded to the Glenn Highway after receiving multiple calls that a 2013 white Dodge Ram was on fire and heading north.
Police said that just prior to South Peters Creek, the truck hit standing water on the road which made it hydroplane. It traveled across two lanes, and came to a stop as it collided with a guardrail. The driver, 38-year-old Shane Wade, got out of the vehicle but got back in and revved the engine, accelerating to get the truck off the guardrail.
When he got the truck free, Wade continued north. APD’s release said the crash damaged the tires, which sent sparks flying as Wade drove and eventually caught the underside of the truck on fire.
Just before Palmer, Wade stopped in the right-hand lane and the truck was engulfed in flames. It was then, police state, that he walked across the center median and over to the southbound lanes of the highway and stopped a white and red Chevy Blazer by stepping into the driver’s way. The driver picked Wade up and continued driving toward Anchorage.
Police shut down the highway at 4:21 a.m. while the Anchorage Fire Department responded to put out the fire, and all lanes were open by 5:30 a.m.
Outbound Glenn Hwy, just prior to Palmer alternate, shut down for vehicle fire. Expect delays. https://t.co/20yoXlMHUm
— APD Public Info. (@APDInfo) June 12, 2016
An officer heard the description of the SUV on the scanner, saw the vehicle near the Glenn Highway weigh station, and pulled the Blazer over at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson exit.
Police said Wade became combative and had to be put into leg restraints when taken into custody by officers, according to the release. The driver of the SUV, who did not know Wade, cooperated with police and was not charged with any crimes.
The truck was owned by Batteries Plus, according to police. Officers and an employee of the business found that a rock was used to break through the store’s glass doors and vehicle keys were stolen. Wade was seen on surveillance video breaking in and stealing the pickup.
APD stated Wade injured his face during the crash, though his injuries were not life-threatening. Wade is charged with second-degree burglary, third-degree theft, first-degree vehicle theft, two counts of third-degree criminal mischief, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Wade was booked into the Anchorage Correctional Complex with a bail of $5,000.
