Blood Tests Show No Drugs or Alcohol in Driver Charged With DUI in Fatal Anchorage Crash
Forensic testing presented in an Anchorage courtroom revealed that John Ivory’s blood tested completely negative for drugs and alcohol following an October 2025 crash on Fireweed Lane that killed 34-year-old Lorraine Williams, according to reporting by Alaska’s News Source (KTUU). Jurors heard testimony from crime lab scientists and crash investigators as the trial moved toward closing arguments scheduled for November 2.
The fatal collision occurred around 9:33 p.m. on October 30 near Fireweed Lane and D Street. Police stated that Williams was struck outside a crosswalk by an eastbound SUV whose driver initially left the scene. Authorities located Ivory shortly afterward and jailed him on a driving under the influence allegation.
Forensic Scientist Testifies About Blood Sample Results at Trial
Court records initially showed Ivory facing a class A misdemeanor count of driving under the influence filed on October 31, 2025. Charging documents alleged he drove under the influence of alcohol, an inhalant, or a controlled substance. Police sought a blood warrant after Ivory provided a breath sample of .000 at the scene, pointing to driving behavior captured on traffic cameras and observations made during drug-recognition testing.
At trial, however, that chemical evidence changed the prosecution's case. Forensic scientist Colleen O’Bryant testified that testing on Ivory’s blood sample yielded no presence of alcohol. Donald Scott Harrell, a chemist, testified that a separate screening for drugs of abuse and THC returned negative results. The state declined to cross-examine both lab witnesses.
Anchorage Police traffic fatality Investigator Casey Johnson walked jurors through surveillance video obtained primarily from a business at 406 West Fireweed Lane, alongside city traffic cameras. Johnson calculated Ivory’s travel speed at approximately 25 miles per hour, below the posted limit of 35 mph. Johnson described the pavement as damp from rain, noting that illumination came from only one side of the street and that the location lacked marked crossings in the immediate area.
Defense attorneys pressed Johnson on visibility, establishing that nighttime scene photographs lacked strong illumination and that surveillance cameras made the scene appear clearer than it would to a driver. Johnson also testified that Williams’ autopsy revealed a high blood-alcohol level and illicit substances, whereas Ivory’s tests showed neither. Ivory held a valid license, insurance, and registration at the time of the crash, and investigators did not characterize his post-crash driving as fleeing at high speed.
Closing arguments are set for November 2, after which the jury will begin deliberations.
