Jack Sabàto, 32, the son of actors Virginia Madsen and Antonio Sabàto Jr., has been charged after a hit-and-run collision in Anchorage, Alaska, killed pedestrian Carl Simmonds, 42. Police say the driver left the scene on Monday, 9 November 2026, without assisting the victim.
Anchorage police and fire department medics were called to Airport Heights Drive near DeBarr Road at approximately 5.48am on Monday. They found Simmonds unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Anchorage Police Department subsequently identified Sabàto as the driver of a Chevrolet Tahoe and confirmed his arrest.
What investigators say happened
According to charging documents reported by Alaska’s News Source (KTUU), the collision happened at about 5.35am, roughly 13 minutes before police were dispatched to the scene.
Investigators recovered vehicle debris and reviewed surveillance footage from the nearby Blood Bank of Alaska. The footage reportedly showed a white Chevrolet Tahoe striking Simmonds. Alaska Public Media reported that investigators saw no braking before or after the collision.
Police traced a matching Tahoe through vehicle registration records and located it at an Anchorage Amazon warehouse around 12.45pm, according to the charging documents. Investigators reported fresh damage to its right front corner consistent with a collision involving a pedestrian. Officers seized the vehicle after obtaining a warrant.
At approximately 2.46pm, Sabàto contacted police, initially saying he thought he had struck an animal, the charging documents allege. He reportedly told investigators he had been making late-night DoorDash deliveries and had not realised he had hit a person.
Sabàto’s account to police
According to those documents, Sabàto said he had noticed an impact and damage to his headlights but did not stop because he was frightened and believed he had no vehicle insurance. That is his reported account to investigators, not an independently established explanation of what happened.
Anchorage police confirmed that Sabàto was arrested on allegations of leaving the scene of an accident without assisting an injured person and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death. Local reporting describes the first charge as a felony and the second as a misdemeanour.
Charges and court appearance
At his first court appearance on Tuesday, 10 November, bail was set at $5,000 and he was ordered not to drive, according to KTUU. An additional $5,000 penalty was set if he failed to attend future court hearings. No conviction has been reported, and the allegations have not been determined at trial.
Victim named as Carl Simmonds
The deceased man, Carl Simmonds, was 42. Alaska Public Media reported that his death was the ninth fatal pedestrian collision in Anchorage in 2026. The figure underscores a broader local road-safety concern, although the circumstances of this individual incident remain under investigation.
Family background
Sabàto is the son of actress Virginia Madsen, who received an Academy Award nomination for Sideways, and actor Antonio Sabàto Jr., known for General Hospital. His father’s reported statement said the family had only just learned the news and asked for privacy.
Police appeal for witnesses
Police have asked anyone with additional surveillance footage or information to contact Anchorage Police Dispatch on 3-1-1 (option 1) or 907-786-8900 (option 0). The police case reference is 26-29325.
Watch: Alaska’s News Source report
Video: Alaska’s News Source (KTUU). Watch the report directly on YouTube if the player does not load.
Sources
- Anchorage Police Department, 9 November 2026: initial incident, confirmed arrest, charges and witness appeal.
- Alaska’s News Source (KTUU), 10–11 November 2026: reporting on the charging documents and arraignment.
- Alaska Public Media, 10 November 2026: investigation, reported surveillance findings and pedestrian fatality context.
