On Saturday night in Anchorage, a lady was struck and killed by an SUV as she crossed West Northern Lights Boulevard. The tragic Anchorage pedestrian death happened at Minnesota Drive, approximately 500 feet west of the permitted crosswalk, around 7:30 p.m. According to Anchorage Police, when medical personnel got to the site, they pronounced the lady deceased. The SUV driver stayed on the site and is assisting with the inquiry. Although authorities have not brought any charges yet, investigators continue to look into the pedestrian deaths in Anchorage.
This awful incident comes after Friday night’s other fatal pedestrian collision. Two cars struck and killed a man as he crossed the Seward Highway, just 500 feet from a crosswalk. In addition, on September 8 in Anchorage, two pedestrians lost their lives in separate instances.
The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) has released statistics that indicate a worrying increase in pedestrian fatalities throughout the country. In 2022, traffic accidents killed at least 7,737 pedestrians, reaching the highest number since 1981. However, between 2022 and 2023, authorities documented at least 7,318 pedestrian deaths, showing a slight reduction in fatalities.
The number of Anchorage pedestrian deaths has also decreased in Alaska. According to the GHSA’s findings, the number of fatal pedestrian crashes in Alaska decreased by 25 percent, from 16 in 2021 to 12 in 2022. Recent incidents in Anchorage have highlighted the ongoing dangers pedestrians face in the state, but this reduction in pedestrian deaths is a positive development.
This news story was originally published by Alaska´s News Source.
