FAIRBANKS - A man who was shot and wounded by an Alaska State Trooper in South Fairbanks on Friday evening remained hospitalized a day later as investigators continued to review the incident.

The trooper shot the man following a traffic stop at 8:22 p.m. near the Tanana River levee on Peger Road. Neither the name of the trooper nor the wounded man have been released. No arrests had been made by Saturday afternoon.

AST spokeswoman Megan Peters said early reports that the trooper was fired upon by the suspect were incorrect. Troopers released that information in the hours after the incident, but Peters said the trooper actually fired because the driver of the vehicle attempted to run him over.

Peters attributed

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the mix-up to confusion at a chaotic crime scene that made its way into an official statement before it could be corrected.

Troopers weren't releasing many specific details about the incident on Saturday, citing an ongoing investigation.

A press release from Alaska State Troopers said that the suspect was driving a 2007 Suburban on Van Horn Road and failed to yield, resulting in pursuit by the trooper. That pursuit ultimately resulted in the trooper shooting the suspect, who was transported to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Peters said she couldn't confirm how many times the suspect was shot or the nature of his injuries. The press release said it appeared the suspect would likely recover at the time of transport, but Peters said she was unable to provide an update on the man's condition, citing patient confidentiality.

Peters said it isn't unusual for authorities to wait before arresting a suspect who is hospitalized. It gives troopers more time to investigate an incident. Authorities are also responsible for medical bills if someone is arrested while they're being treated.

Peters said the suspect is not considered a flight risk.

There was also a passenger in the suspect's vehicle, but that person was not injured and had not been arrested by early Saturday afternoon.

"I don't know if that person is suspected of anything or is going to be charged with anything," Peters said.

Under Department of Public Safety policy, the name of the trooper involved is being withheld for three business days while the incident is under investigation. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation is looking into the incident, which is standard procedure when a trooper is involved in a shooting.

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