Anchorage

Anchorage police ID officer whose vehicle struck pedestrian near Merrill Field

Anchorage police on Thursday made public the name of the officer driving a cruiser that struck and injured a pedestrian on Fifth Avenue near Merrill Field early Sunday, breaking the man's leg.

Police spokeswoman Anita Shell said officer Joshua Vance was one of three officers responding to a weapons-disturbance call near Ingra Street and 20th Avenue just before 1 a.m. Sunday. The officers' vehicles were heading west on Fifth, with lights and sirens activated, when Vance's vehicle struck 62-year-old Clyde Howarth about 140 feet west of Concrete Street.

"(Howarth) was walking northbound across several of the westbound lanes of East Fifth Avenue," Shell said. "(He) failed to use a designated crosswalk."

Police said Monday that Vance tried to take evasive action to avoid hitting Howarth, who was wearing "all dark clothing," then stopped to help Howarth until medics took him to a hospital.

No charges or citations have been filed in the incident, Shell said.

Chris Klint

Chris Klint is a former ADN reporter who covered breaking news.

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