newsminer.com

WASILLA, Alaska -- Wasilla police are investigating the cause of a one-car crash that killed a local man along the Parks Highway.

Robert Jacob "Jake" Pevan, 21, was partially ejected and pinned beneath his 2000 Mercury Cougar in the crash Saturday near Church Road.

Deputy Chief Greg Wood said investigators are not sure when the accident occurred. A passer-by phoned in the crash at 5:07 a.m.

Police said Pevan's car left the northbound lane of the Parks Highway, rolled and came to rest about 25 feet off the right side of the road near Church Road.

"At this time, we have no reason to believe alcohol was a factor but we continue to investigate," Wood said.

Pevan attended Wasilla High before graduating from East High School in 2005. He was employed at the Anchorage office of Paragon Distributing as a driver, and as a bartender at Houston Lodge.

Tim Weeks, co-owner of Paragon Distributing, described Pevan as a "great kid."

Pevan was hearing-impaired but had worked at the distributing company for more than a year, never letting his disability get in the way relating to people, Weeks said.

"The best thing about him was he was willing to learn," Weeks said. "He was willing to listen."

Listening for Pevan might mean reading a text message or communicating verbally only when face-to-face.

"He did not let his handicap get in his way. He never used it as an excuse," Weeks said. "He was able to communicate."

Pevan's family has set up a memorial account in Pevan's name at Wells Fargo to benefit individuals in the deaf community.