This story has been updated with additional information about the victim.
Police have arrested a man alleged to have struck and severely injured a pedestrian on a sidewalk — within sight of a police officer — and then fled the scene.
The incident occurred at the intersection of Glacier Highway and Shell Simmons Drive about 10:21 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, according to a release from the Juneau Police Department.
An unidentified 35-year-old male suffered “life-threatening injuries” while two other individuals were able to get out of the way of the vehicle, identified as a 2016 Nissan Frontier, according to the JPD release. A week after the accident, JPD spokesperson Erann Kalwara said “the pedestrian/victim that was injured in the hit-and-run collision is in stable condition after surgery.”
A patrol officer in the area observed the vehicle traveling west on Glacier Highway “at a high rate of speed, in a 35-mph zone” The officer activated emergency lights and siren while the driver of the Nissan sped away, according to the police department release.
The officer stopped to assist the injured pedestrian until emergency medical service officials arrived. A witness to the incident also stopped to render aid.
At about 10:39 p.m. officers located the Nissan Frontier at a hotel parking lot in the 9000 block of Glacier Highway. It had front end damage.
Police arrested Scott Roy Underwood, 26, of Anchorage. He is charged with second-degree assault, failing to render assistance, failing to stop at the direction of a peace officer, reckless driving and reckless endangerment.
Police said the injured man was taken to Bartlett Regional Hospital, where he was medevaced out of town for further medical treatment. A hospital spokesperson declined to provide details of where he was taken.
• Contact Meredith Jordan at meredith.jordan@juneauempire.com or (907) 615-3190.
