While the Anchorage Assembly leftist majority skirts responsibility for its liberal jaywalking ordinance, which went into effect last October, yet another death has occurred on Anchorage streets.
On Tuesday at 3:48 p.m., Anchorage police responded to the area of West Benson Blvd. and Dawson Street for reports of a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. That makes three such hits in a week in Anchorage.
Initial indications are that an adult female was crossing Benson Blvd. near Dawson Street when she was struck by a GMC Sierra travelling eastbound on Benson Blvd.
The woman was transported to a local hospital by fire department medics for what were described as life-threatening injuries.
No charges have been filed at this time, police said.
The accident occurred an hour after some Assembly members had a press conference to explain how they will try to get speed limits lowered around Anchorage and install more street lighting in Anchorage to avoid the increase in vehicle-caused deaths of pedestrians.
However, as with many of the other deaths, the accident occurred during the daytime when additional street lighting would have not helped visibility. Benson is one of the busiest streets in Anchorage.
Assemblywoman Meg Zaletel said she was outraged at the lack of outrage in the city over the pedestrian deaths.
“That means in the municipality alone, we are on track to surpass the statewide record for pedestrian deaths, which was 13 in 2022,” Zaletel said. Two hours later that 13th death occurred.
“I am outraged at the lack of outrage in this community,” she said, not taking responsibility for the ordinance that has encourage pedestrians to walk into the roadways, with many drivers reporting numerous close calls with pedestrians who seem to want to tempt fate by making unsafe crossings.
