Key Facts: Jack Sabato Arrested in Alaska
Key Facts: Jack Sabato Arrested in Alaska
- What happened: Jack Sabato, 32, was arrested in Anchorage, Alaska, after a crash killed a pedestrian in the early morning on Monday, November 9, 2026.
- The victim: Carl Simmonds, 42, was found unresponsive at the scene and pronounced dead. Police say he was hit near Airport Heights Drive and DeBarr Road.
- The charges: Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death, and leaving the scene without assisting an injured person.
- The latest: Sabato was arraigned on Tuesday, November 10. A judge set bail at $5,000 and ordered him not to drive.
- The family: His father is actor Antonio Sabato Jr. His mother is Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. His father has asked for privacy.
Police in Anchorage, Alaska, arrested Jack Sabato on Monday night after they say his SUV struck and killed a pedestrian in an early-morning crash — and then kept driving. The 32-year-old is the son of actors Antonio Sabato Jr. and Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen. He now faces two charges tied to leaving the scene. A judge has already ordered him not to drive while the case moves forward.
The crash happened in the dark, hours before sunrise. Police say Simmonds, 42, was crossing near the intersection of Airport Heights Drive and DeBarr Road when a white Chevrolet Tahoe hit him. The driver did not stop. He was the ninth pedestrian killed by a vehicle in Anchorage this year.
What Happened on Airport Heights Drive?
According to charging documents obtained by Alaska’s News Source, the crash happened at about 5:35 a.m. on Monday, November 9. Officers reached the scene at about 5:48 a.m. They found Simmonds unresponsive and pronounced him dead there. Investigators then pulled surveillance video from a nearby Blood Bank of Alaska camera. The footage allegedly shows the Tahoe striking Simmonds without braking before or after the impact.
Simmonds was the ninth pedestrian struck and killed by a vehicle in the city this year, according to Alaska’s News Source. Records cited by The Mirror show the city recorded 15 pedestrian deaths in both 2024 and 2025 — a grim pattern that puts the danger of the city’s roads in sharp focus.
How Police Traced the Tahoe to Jack Sabato
Investigators traced the Tahoe through its registration to Sabato’s home address. Then, at about 12:45 p.m. on Monday, officers found the SUV at Sabato’s workplace, an Anchorage Amazon warehouse. The vehicle had fresh damage to the right front corner, which the charging documents describe as consistent with a pedestrian strike. Police seized the SUV under a warrant.
Sabato later called police to say he had hit an animal and wanted to speak with them. He told investigators he had been returning home after “doing late-night DoorDashing” when “something” suddenly appeared in the road. He also said he did not stop because he lacked insurance, according to the charging documents. His girlfriend had alerted him after officers seized the vehicle, Alaska Public Media reported.
Jack Sabato Arrested: The Charges and What Happens Next
Officers arrested Jack Sabato on Monday night and booked him into the Anchorage Correctional Complex. The charges are leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death, and leaving the scene of an accident without assisting an injured person. A judge arraigned him on Tuesday afternoon in the Anchorage Jail Courtroom, set bail at $5,000, ordered him not to drive, and warned of another $5,000 penalty if he fails to appear at future court dates. As of Tuesday evening, he remained in custody, according to local reports.
One point matters a lot here. Sabato is charged with leaving the scene — not with causing the crash, and not with murder or manslaughter. The charges focus on what happened after the impact. In Alaska, as in most states, a driver in a crash must stop, check on anyone hurt, and report it. Prosecutors must now prove their case in court. Sabato is presumed innocent unless a court finds him guilty. The case is still early, and the charges could change as prosecutors review the evidence.
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 9, ~5:35 a.m. | A white Chevrolet Tahoe strikes pedestrian Carl Simmonds near Airport Heights Drive and DeBarr Road in Anchorage. The vehicle leaves the scene. |
| Mon, Nov 9, ~5:48 a.m. | Police respond to the scene. Simmonds, 42, is found unresponsive and pronounced dead. |
| Mon, Nov 9, morning | Sabato contacts police and says he hit an animal with his SUV while out DoorDashing. |
| Mon, Nov 9, ~12:45 p.m. | Police locate the Tahoe at Sabato’s workplace, an Anchorage Amazon warehouse. The vehicle is seized. |
| Mon, Nov 9, night | Jack Sabato arrested and booked into the Anchorage Correctional Complex. |
| Tue, Nov 10, afternoon | Sabato is arraigned in the Anchorage Jail Courtroom. Bail is set at $5,000, with a no-driving order. |
What Do the Charges Mean for the Case?
The two charges work as a pair. The first covers leaving a crash that caused injury or death. The second covers leaving without helping the person who was hurt. Together, they ask one question: did the driver stop and help? That is why the surveillance video and Sabato’s own account will matter so much. The video, if it matches what investigators say, speaks to the moments before and after the impact. His statements to police, meanwhile, will be weighed against it. For now, the court has only set bail and a no-driving order.
Antonio Sabato Jr. Speaks Out: “Our Family Is Digesting This Horrible News”
Antonio Sabato Jr. broke his silence in a statement to TMZ on Tuesday. “We all just found out the terrible news and our family is digesting this horrible news and asking for privacy in this devastating news. Thank you,” he said. It was the family’s only public comment so far. Virginia Madsen has not commented publicly as of this writing.
Antonio and Virginia were in a relationship from 1993 to 1998, and Jack was born in 1994. Madsen earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in the 2004 film Sideways. She is also known for Candyman and A Prairie Home Companion. Antonio built his name on General Hospital and Melrose Place, and later worked as a model. Their son has lived a mostly private life in Alaska, far from the Hollywood spotlight.
What Happens Next in the Jack Sabato Case?
With Jack Sabato arrested, the next steps belong to the court. He remains in custody for now, and future hearing dates have not been made public yet. If he posts bail, the no-driving order will still apply. The case could raise wider questions. Sabato told police he was out doing late-night DoorDash deliveries when the crash happened. That detail has drawn attention to the risks gig drivers face on the road. For now, the focus stays on the courtroom. CelebWatch will update this story as new details emerge.
Celebrity arrests rarely stay quiet. Former Dancing with the Stars champion Melissa Rycroft was also arrested this year in a DWI case in Tarrant County. In other celebrity news today, Stacy Keach died at 85 and Irma P. Hall died at 91.
Sources
- Alaska’s News Source (KTUU), via Gray News — Son of famed Hollywood stars charged in fatal Anchorage hit-and-run
- Just Jared — Antonio Sabato Jr. speaks out after son Jack Sabato arrested for fatal hit-and-run
- Parade — Virginia Madsen & Antonio Sabàto’s son arrested in fatal hit-and-run
