Alaska Senate considers tougher penalties for hit-and-run deaths

The Senate Community and Regional Affairs Committee on Tuesday heard testimony on legislation that would create enhanced penalties for drivers who flee fatal accidents without stopping to help.

Senate Bill 265 would make failure to render assistance in fatal accidents a Class A felony with a presumptive sentence of seven to 11 years for first-time offenders. Current Alaska law treats failure to assist the same whether an accident causes injury or death, with both carrying penalties of up to 10 years.

Sen. Mike Shower, the bill's sponsor, told the committee the legislation was inspired by the 2014 death of Jeff Dusenberry, who was killed by a drunk driver who fled the scene during a morning bike ride in Anchorage. "In 2014, a drunk driver hit and killed my friend Jeff Dusenberry," Shower said. "That driver failed to stop and help. Ever since that day, I have wondered, if she had stopped, would Jeff Dusenberry be alive today?"

Shower emphasized the importance of immediate medical assistance following accidents. "Quite literally, if medical providers never learn of the opportunity to provide medical care, the time that passes between an accident and when medical assistance arrives at the scene of that accident may be the difference between life and death," Shower said.

Under the proposed legislation, failure to render assistance when an injury occurs would remain a Class B felony with a presumptive sentence of one to three years. The enhanced Class A felony penalty would apply only when death occurs and the driver is convicted of criminally negligent homicide.

Alaska's current law requires drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury or death to stop and provide reasonable assistance, including arranging for medical care. The proposed changes would create a distinction between injury and fatal accidents for the first time in state law.

The committee took no action on the bill during its first hearing. The legislation will need approval from the full Senate before moving to the House for consideration. No timeline was announced for further consideration of the measure.