Homer Alaska - Local Stories -

Car theft leads to Basargin Road rollover; passenger, driver medevaced to Anchorage 


BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG 

A Canadian visiting Alaska for his brother's wedding caused a serious accident on Basargin Road near Razdolna about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night when he stole a Mitsubishi Gallant with the keys in the ignition -- and three passengers still in the car. Alaska State Troopers allege Joseph Serebrekoff, of Plamondon, Alberta, then drove drunk at speeds up to 80 mph on the winding rural road, lost control on a corner, clipped a ditch and caused the car to roll several times. Two women, Evdokia Karayel, 25, also of Plamondon, and Livia Reutov, 29, of Voznesenka, were thrown 40 feet from the car. 

Karayel had neck and back pain and was taken to the South Peninsula Hospital, said Trooper Ryan Browning. Reutov had more severe injuries, with back and facial fractures, and was medevaced to Providence Alaska Medical Center. She remained in critical condition as of Tuesday. 

Another passenger, Nikola Reutov, 19, of Voznesenka, managed to fasten his seat belt after Serebrekoff stole the car and was not injured. The two women did not get belted in time. Serebrekoff also suffered severe injuries and was medevaced to Providence. "They're lucky to be alive," Browning said. 

Browning had encountered Serebrekoff just moments earlier when he went to investigate a drunken party with underage drinkers on Basargin Road, a road near Mile 19 East End Road leading to the Russian Old Believer community of Razdolna. Browning saw some partiers near Mile 3 Basargin Road and stopped. "I'm driving by and bottles were just flying," Browning said. 

Serebrekoff challenged Browning and told him to prove he was drunk. Browning told him and other partiers to be safe, get a sober driver and go home. "And then this happens," Browning said. "It's so frustrating." 

The Mitsubishi belonged to Nikita Basargin, 19, who said he had stepped out of his car to urinate in the woods off the road. When he came back, his car was gone. 

Serebrekoff had just celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday. On his first day of adulthood, he was charged with first-degree assault, two counts of third-degree assault and two counts of first-degree auto theft, including one count for damaging Basargin's car. All are felonies. Serebrekoff also was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and minor consuming alcohol. Troopers requested a warrant to arrest Serebrekoff after he is released from Providence. 

Browning said as sometimes the only trooper responding to large teenage drinking parties out East End Road, it is impractical to detain anybody for MCA. He's more concerned with their safety, he said. 

"The goal is to get their alcohol poured out, get them sober drivers and make sure they're safe," he said. 

Michael Armstrong can be reached at

michael.armstrong.@homernews.com.

http://homernews.com/stories/092309/news_3_002.shtml