Vanessa Renea Nick Sentenced for June 2021 DUI Crash

From the Attorney General’s Office:

Anchorage Superior Court Judge Andrew Peterson sentenced Vanessa Renea Nick to a composite sentence of 36 months with 30 months suspended for striking another vehicle at the round about traffic device on eastbound Dowling Road at the Seward on ramp. 

She was sentenced for one count of assault in the third degree and one count of driving under the influence. A charge for refusal to submit to a chemical test was dismissed as part of the agreement. 

 On June 29, 2021, APD received numerous reports of a dangerous driver on eastbound Dowling Road.  While responding, APD received additional calls indicating that the driver struck another vehicle at the roundabout near the Seward on ramp.  The collision caused significant injuries to a passenger in the other vehicle.  APD contacted Nick in the driver’s seat of her vehicle.  They noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from her.  She admitted consuming eight shots of Crown Royale earlier that morning.  She refused to comply with instructions of standardized field sobriety tests but showed obvious signs of alcohol impairment.  When requested to submit a breath test on the Datamaster, Nick refused to provide a sample

 Judge Peterson also imposed a $1500 fine, 6 months ignition interlock device, a 90-day driver’s license revocation, and 4 years’ probation.  Nick had no prior convictions before this incident.

Original—06/30/21

At 8:15AM on June 29, 2021 a citizen called APD dispatch to report a dangerous driver who was driving on Dowling Road in a red Kia, swerving in and out of its lane and hitting a barrier. The vehicle continued to travel eastbound on Dowling Road to the roundabout where it ran over a sign and wrecked in the roundabout. The citizen caller safely followed the Kia and gave location updates to Dispatch until patrol officers arrived. 
 
When officers arrived, there were multiple cars on the sidewalk. One vehicle appeared to have been hit, and at least one occupant of the vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
 
Officers contacted 31-year-old Vanessa R. Nick in the driver seat of the red Kia located on the southbound ramp to Seward Highway. There was a strong odor of alcohol coming from Nick.
 
Officers attempted to perform a Standardized Field Sobriety Test on Nick, but she refused to stand up and follow instructions. Nick showed obvious signs of impairment and the decision was made to arrest Nick for Operating Under the Influence. Nick was transported to the Anchorage Jail for processing.  While at the Anchorage Jail, Nick attempted to attack an incoming inmate. The inmate was not harmed, and Nick was placed into handcuffs. Nick also refused to provide a breath sample.
 
Nick was remanded at the Hiland Correctional Center for Operating Under the Influence, Assault, Refusal to Submit a Chemical Test, and Leaving the Scene of Crash.
  
REDDI – Report Every Dangerous Driver Immediately by calling 9-1-1. Anchorage Police are grateful to the citizen who reported the reckless driving behavior they had witnessed to law enforcement.
 
APD Case 21-20633