Salcha Woman Dies After Jumping From Vehicle; Driver Charged with DUI

A Salcha woman struck by an SUV early Tuesday morning was able to call 911 before succumbing to her injuries, according to Alaska State Troopers.

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By Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

Story Created: Feb 21, 2011 at 2:50 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Feb 21, 2011 at 2:50 PM AKDT

Original article posted Sept. 16, 2010

FAIRBANKS - A Salcha woman struck by an SUV early Tuesday morning was able to call 911 before succumbing to her injuries, according to Alaska State Troopers. 

Troopers believe that Nina L. Batey, 46, was driving a 1990 Ford Bronco into 41-year-old Rachael Carlston's driveway at 6575 Richardson Highway at about 1:45 a.m. when Carlston jumped out of the Bronco's passenger side door, fell and was run over by the vehicle.
 
Batey continued down the driveway for about 100 yards after running over Carlston, according to a criminal complaint filed in court.
 
Carlston was able to use her cell phone to call 911 and told dispatchers she needed an ambulance because she had been run over near the Knotty Shop next to her home. Trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters would not discuss the specifics of the call.
 
After the accident, Batey ran inside Carlston's home and contacted her roommate, identified in court records as Louis M. Lovell. They carried Carlston, who had crawled to the side of the driveway, into the home and called 911 a second time.
 
Carlston sustained "significant trauma" to her face and torso, according to court records.
 
Despite the work of emergency personnel from Salcha Rescue, Carlston was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
Batey told troopers that Carlston had been drinking for the past two days. The pair decided to have a "party night," and after drinking beer and sharing a bottle of liquor, they drove to a nearby pond to walk Carlston's dog.
 
They were coming back from walking the dog when Carlston jumped out of the SUV, according to court records.
 
Batey initially refused field sobriety tests. She smelled of alcohol, had watery, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when troopers arrived at the Richardson Highway home. Later, a chemical test found her breath-alcohol content to be 0.196, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
 
Troopers found two open beer cans and an open bottle of vodka in Batey's Ford Bronco.
 
She is being held at Fairbanks Correctional Center without bail on a charge of felony driving under the influence. She was previously convicted of drunken driving in December 2002 and September 2006.
 
An autopsy will be conducted on Carlston's remains by the state medical examiner's office.
 
Troopers also forwarded a manslaughter charge to prosecutors, but Fairbanks District Attorney Mike Gray said he is waiting for the results of an autopsy before deciding whether or not to pursue other charges.
 
Contact staff writer Chris Freiberg at 459-7545.
 

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