Woman hit on Muldoon Road dies; city records show rising pedestrian fatalities
Anchorage police say a 62-year-old woman was struck and killed Saturday night while crossing Muldoon Road, highlighting a seasonal surge in pedestrian collisions as daylight shortens. Officers responded to the collision around 10 p.m., and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene after medics from the fire department attempted to save her life.
The victim has been identified by police as Bertha Nesbit, 62. According to the Anchorage Police Department, Nesbit was crossing Muldoon between Peck and Duben avenues when she was struck by a Ford Escape. The driver remained at the scene, and police closed a portion of Muldoon for about five hours during the investigation. At this time, authorities have not filed any charges.
The collision is the eighth pedestrian fatality on Anchorage streets this year and comes less than a week after another pedestrian was killed, city traffic officials noted. Officials also say September and October traditionally see higher rates of vehicle-pedestrian collisions as early darkness and approaching snowfall change visibility and travel patterns.
“September and October tend to see higher rates of vehicles hitting pedestrians as skies get darker ahead of snowfall,”
The loss adds to a troubling multi-year pattern. City records show that both 2024 and 2025 recorded 15 pedestrian fatalities each, while 2026 has already reached eight confirmed deaths with the most recent crash.
| Year | Pedestrian deaths in Anchorage |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 15 |
| 2026 (so far) | 8 |
Residents in the Muldoon corridor and citywide have already been managing shorter daylight hours and the first hints of winter travel. Pedestrian safety advocates and traffic officials often point to a mix of factors that converge in the fall: lower sun angles, earlier nights, wet or icy surfaces nearing snowfall, and shifts in commuting patterns. Those conditions can reduce drivers’ reaction time and make pedestrians harder to see.
- Immediate impact: Muldoon Road between Peck and Duben avenues was closed for approximately five hours while investigators processed the scene.
- Ongoing risk: This is the second pedestrian fatality in less than a week, and the eighth this year in Anchorage.
- Seasonal context: City traffic officials warn that September and October typically show higher rates of vehicle-pedestrian collisions as daylight decreases.
For neighbors around Muldoon, the crash is a grim reminder of how quickly a walk across a busy arterial can turn fatal. Muldoon Road carries a mix of local and through traffic, and nearby residential blocks rely on crosswalks and sidewalks to connect to transit, stores and services. The police statement did not provide details about whether a crosswalk was in use or the lighting conditions at the precise location.
As investigators continue their work, the community faces immediate questions about enforcement, roadway design and public education. Anchorage has seen multiple years with double-digit pedestrian fatalities, and each new death renews calls for targeted safety measures — from improved lighting and clearer crosswalks to driver awareness campaigns — particularly during months when daylight shrinks quickly.
The Anchorage Police Department remains the lead agency on the Muldoon investigation. No charges have been filed, and the driver who remained on scene is cooperating with investigators, according to the department's statement.
For now, family members and neighbors will grapple with the loss of Nesbit, while the city and its residents confront the tougher task of reducing pedestrian deaths as the Anchorage calendar turns toward darker, winter months.
