The son of actors Antonio Sabato Jr. and Virginia Madsen has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run collision in Anchorage, Alaska. Jack Sabato, 32, faces serious criminal charges after a pedestrian was struck and killed in the early morning hours of November 9.
The Anchorage Police Department has charged Sabato with leaving the scene of an accident without assisting the injured and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death. The victim has been identified as Carl Simmonds, 42, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to reports of an unresponsive man near the intersection of Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road at approximately 5:48 in the morning. The preliminary investigation determined that a vehicle had struck Simmonds before fleeing the scene.
According to court records, the felony charge relates to leaving the scene without rendering aid to the victim, while a misdemeanor charge addresses the failure to remain at the scene of a fatal accident. Charging documents indicate that responding officers discovered Simmonds’ body on the sidewalk along Airport Heights Drive, with several automobile parts scattered in the vicinity.
The investigation progressed when officers reviewed security camera footage from a nearby bank. The video showed a white Chevrolet Tahoe striking Simmonds without any apparent attempt to brake either before or after the collision. Law enforcement officers subsequently entered the vehicle description into the Alaska Public Safety Information Network and located a matching vehicle registered to Jack Sabato parked at an Amazon warehouse facility in Anchorage. The vehicle was immediately seized as evidence.
In statements to police detailed in the charging documents, Sabato acknowledged striking something while driving home after completing deliveries for DoorDash. He told investigators the impact damaged his headlights. Sabato stated he believed he had struck an animal rather than a person and did not stop because he was operating the vehicle without insurance coverage.
He further explained to authorities that he proceeded through a red light because he felt unsafe continuing to drive without functioning headlights. According to the documents, Sabato indicated he had planned to report the incident after completing his work shift. However, he contacted police only after his girlfriend informed him that his SUV had been seized by law enforcement. At that point, Sabato told investigators he "knew the worst."
The facts of this case present troubling questions about personal responsibility and the obligations we bear to our fellow citizens. The death of Carl Simmonds represents a profound loss, and the circumstances surrounding his death demand a thorough examination by the justice system. As this case proceeds through the courts, the full accounting of what occurred that November morning will emerge.
Related: Seven-Year-Old Dual Citizen Dies During Security Operation in Border City
