Lede: A 47-year-old man died early Thursday morning in a single-vehicle crash on Glacier Highway in Juneau.
Authorities identified the victim as Matthew Curtis Beecroft, who was a passenger in a blue Nissan Xterra that overturned and landed in a ditch filled with approximately three feet of water. The driver, a 30-year-old man, escaped with minor injuries and informed responders that Beecroft was trapped inside the submerged vehicle.
Responding officers and EMTs attempted to rescue Beecroft but found he was pinned underwater. The Juneau Police Department confirmed his death at the scene.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing, involving JPD detectives and an accident reconstruction team. According to police, alcohol consumption appears to be a factor in the accident's cause. Initial reports indicate that the driver had been at a local establishment in Auke Bay before picking up Beecroft.
The driver was transported to Bartlett Regional Hospital for evaluation. A search warrant was obtained for a blood sample to assess his blood alcohol concentration. He has been released from custody pending analysis of the results.
For more information, contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at 757-621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.