By THE ALASKA STORY
May 6, 2026 – A new state epidemiology report shows a troubling increase in pedestrian deaths in Anchorage, with 2025 marking the highest fatality rate in the past decade.
According to the Alaska Department of Health bulletin released April 22, a total of 92 pedestrian fatalities were recorded in Anchorage between 2016 and 2025, with last year alone accounting for 15 deaths — the highest annual total and a rate of 5.18 deaths per 100,000 people.
The data shows a clear upward trend in recent years, with fatalities climbing after a dip in the early 2020s. The chart included in the report illustrates a noticeable spike beginning in 2023 and continuing through 2025, suggesting pedestrian safety risks are worsening rather than improving.
The report did not mention the fact that Anchorage Assembly loosened jaywalking laws in Anchorage in the fall of 2023, just before the spike.
The report instead identifies specific patterns behind the increase. Most fatalities occurred in late summer and early fall, particularly from August through October, and were most common during late-night hours between 11 pm and 2 am.
Men accounted for a majority of those killed, making up 61% of fatalities. Alcohol and substance use were also a major factor. More than one-third of pedestrians involved in fatal crashes had some level of substance use, while a quarter of drivers did as well.
Driver behavior is another key concern, the report said. In nearly one-third of fatal crashes, drivers fled the scene. Speeding was also documented, though less frequently.
Geographically, fatalities were concentrated in a few high-traffic areas, particularly Midtown Anchorage, which accounted for 25% of deaths. Other hotspots included parts of east downtown and sections of C Street.
State health officials point to a mix of environmental and human factors driving the increase. Reduced daylight in late summer and fall, combined with changing road conditions and driver adjustment to seasonal shifts, creates higher-risk conditions.
But the report emphasizes that many of these deaths may be preventable.
“Illegal driver behaviors such as impaired driving and fleeing the scene were frequently documented,” the authors noted, adding that targeted enforcement, better roadway design, and public awareness could reduce the toll.
The findings underscore growing safety concerns in Alaska’s largest city, where increasing pedestrian traffic intersects with high-speed roadways and long periods of low visibility.
Health officials recommend a combination of enforcement and education, including discouraging impaired driving, reducing distractions, improving lighting and visibility, and encouraging pedestrians to wear reflective clothing — as key steps to reversing the trend.
The report concludes that continued monitoring and targeted interventions will be essential if Anchorage hopes to bring pedestrian fatalities back down in the coming years. The report mentions nothing about municipal jaywalking ordinances contributing to the deaths.
5 thoughts on “Pedestrian deaths rising in Anchorage, with 2025 the deadliest year in a decade”
“Pedestrians”
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I know you are probably just repeating the specious, agenda-driven and disingenuous radical leftist propaganda of the Anchorage Daily Worker here, Suzanne, but let’s be honest: these were probably almost to a person NOT normal pedestrians, but inebriated and/or drug-addled homeless dregs wandering aimlessly into the roads, as I have seen myself on multiple occasions. And demonstrably, that HAS been on the increase in recent years as well. To even imply that random, normal pedestrians are being killed in increasing numbers in traffic accidents in Anchorage is disingenuous at best, and maliciously dishonest at worst.
She’s trying to not look racist because the stupid will call her a racist for calling out a “spade for a spade”
We all know which group she is incinerating without directly calling them out so stupid idiots unoffended with How dare she single them out as homeless.
Many of these deaths are caused by people NOT walking to a crosswalk. They seem to think people will stop for them. They’re not only Inebriated drunk or on drugs and thinking drivers can “instantly stop on a dime” they don’t look for crosswalk or even try to get to a crosswalk. and driver being inebriated are looking just to get home before being discovered. and a crosswalk it too far for them to walk to…
When you legalize jaywalking like the Assembly did a few years ago, you are gonna get more jaywalking, which surprises drivers who end up running down more pedestrians. All of this is supposed to be a big surprise. The goal is create a new problem that requires more action by the Assembly to fix it. Nice self-licking ice cream cone, that, a bit deadly, though. Cheers –
The controlling leaders (control freaks) can’t force people to stop drinking alcohol nor consuming drugs including marijuana.
Look to Seattle are they solving the same problems Anchorage faces today using Seattle’s playbook. No! Using the same playbook by Seattle will only further decrease the quality of life here and escalate today’s problems.
Democrats are such stupid idiots.
They’ll keep being a stubborn idiot and keep using Seattle’s playbook because that’s what stubborn idiots do best
***By the way These Democrats don’t care anything about the disorderly, the handicapped Hobos and homeless on Anchorage’s streets whether or not these Souls die in the streets, the woods, or in an assisted living home, or a hospital, or in a violent home. These Denemcrats don’t care about anyone else but themselves they don’t even care about their own spouse and children.