Anchorage

Police ID pedestrian killed by tow truck

Anchorage police identified a man struck in traffic and killed Wednesday at 15th Avenue and Gambell Street as Phillip Chokwak, 42.

Chokwak had apparently been causing a disturbance at the nearby Black Angus Inn just before the collision, according to a written statement from police. A motel employee confronted Chokwak, who ran out of the building, police said.

An Anchorage Towing tow truck headed south on Gambell hit Chokwak when the man stepped off a curb and into traffic, according to police. A police spokeswoman said Wednesday he was pronounced dead soon after officers arrived.

Police identified the truck's driver as Shpend Arapi, 32. No citations or charges were filed in the collision, police said.

The intersection was closed for about four hours.

Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.

By CASEY GROVE

casey.grove@adn.com

Casey Grove

Casey Grove is a former reporter for the Anchorage Daily News. He left the ADN in 2014.

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