An Anchorage driver hit and killed a pedestrian on a sidewalk early
Saturday before fleeing the scene, according to police.
The alleged driver, 27-year-old Joshua Vargas, was arrested nearby
shortly after.
Police say a woman had just finished crossing with a walk signal at
Northern Lights Boulevard and Minnesota Drive when a sedan swerved
onto the sidewalk and hit her about 1 a.m. Saturday.
The woman, who has not been named publicly, was pronounced dead at
the scene. Police say the sedan's driver also hit another vehicle
before fleeing.
Officers stopped the car near West Anchorage High School a short time
later.
Vargas, the driver, had slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and smelled
like alcohol, according to police. A breath-alcohol sample measured
.318 nearly four times Alaska s legal limit of .08.
Vargas was charged with manslaughter, drunken driving, leaving the scene of an
accident and driving on a canceled license.
A grand jury indicted Vargas on Wednesday, adding a second-degree murder charge.
Last year, 15 pedestrians were struck and killed by vehicles in the Anchorage area. Saturday’s collision marks the 11th such fatality so far this year.
Correction: This story has been updated to include that Vargas was charged with manslaughter and, later, second-degree murder.
