Man pleads to murder charge in crash that killed two

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- A 35-year-old Anchorage man pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and assault Monday in the crash that killed two young boys and injured their grandparents last July.

Robert Richardson could be sentenced to life in prison for the crimes. Members of the boys' family sat in the courtroom with large pictures of the two, but Richardson did not acknowledge them.

Richardson's blood alcohol level was .175, well above the legal limit of .10, when his pickup truck crossed the center line at Mile 1.3 of Portage Glacier Road July 12, according to Alaska State Troopers. It was Richardson's first DWI charge.

Kevin D. Blake, 15, of Tatitlek and Kenneth Kramer, 11, of Wasilla were killed in the crash. They were on their way to Whittier to go fishing. Troopers said Blake was driving the car, with his grandfather beside him.

The boys' grandparents, David Glasen, 61, and Patsy Glasen, 57, of Tatitlek were ejected from the car. David Glasen suffered head injuries and a broken hip. Patsy Glasen suffered head injuries.

Richardson himself suffered a broken leg, a severed finger and a lacerated aorta.

Troopers said that 20 minutes before the crash, a tow truck driver pulled Richardson's truck from deep water off the road. The tow truck driver told Richardson he was too drunk to drive, but didn't think he had the legal authority to take Richardson's keys.