He had spent the night visiting his partner in the hospital. As the Alaska morning remained dark and quiet, 42-year-old Carl Simmonds was making his way back when a white SUV allegedly struck him and continued driving. Hours later, police connected the vehicle to Jack Sabàto, the 32-year-old son of Hollywood actors Virginia Madsen and Antonio Sabàto Jr. But what investigators say Sabàto admitted afterward has left Carl’s grieving family struggling with one painful question: Could someone have stopped to help him?

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — A devastating hit-and-run incident on November 9, 2026, has left an Alaska family mourning and brought unexpected attention to the son of two well-known Hollywood performers.

Carl Simmonds, 42, was fatally struck near the intersection of Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road in East Anchorage shortly before 5:48 a.m.

According to his family, Simmonds had been visiting his partner, Crystal, who was receiving medical care at a nearby hospital.

He was returning from that visit when the collision occurred.

Police subsequently arrested Jack Antonio Sabàto, 32, and charged him with leaving the scene of an accident without ᴀssisting an injured person and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or de*th.

Sabàto has not been convicted, and the case remains before the courts.

Surveillance Footage Reveals the Collision

Anchorage police received a report of an unresponsive pedestrian at approximately 5:48 a.m. on Monday.

Emergency responders arrived and discovered Simmonds near the intersection.

He was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Investigators recovered vehicle debris from the roadway and began searching for surveillance footage.

A camera belonging to the nearby Blood Bank of Alaska captured the collision.

According to charging documents, the video showed a white Chevrolet Tahoe striking Simmonds.

Investigators reported that the SUV did not appear to brake before or immediately after the impact.

The recording provided police with crucial information about the vehicle involved.

Officers then traced a matching Tahoe to Sabàto.

Police Discover a Damaged SUV at His Workplace

Later that day, investigators located the Chevrolet Tahoe parked at an Amazon delivery facility in Anchorage.

The vehicle reportedly had fresh damage to its right front corner.

Police believed the damage was consistent with the collision shown in the surveillance footage.

Officers obtained a warrant and seized the SUV for examination.

According to court documents, Sabàto was working on a delivery route when investigators found the vehicle.

The discovery helped authorities connect the vehicle to the driver they were seeking.

But another development followed several hours later.

Sabàto contacted police himself.

“Something Suddenly Appeared in the Road”

At approximately 2:46 p.m., Sabàto called authorities and reported that he believed he had struck an animal with his vehicle.

During questioning, he reportedly explained that he had been driving home after making late-night DoorDash deliveries.

He said something unexpectedly appeared in the roadway near Alaska Regional Hospital.

The impact damaged his headlights.

According to charging documents, Sabàto told investigators he did not realize he had struck a person.

He claimed he had hoped for the best after the collision.

But police say he also acknowledged knowing that he had hit something.

The question then became why he did not stop.

His Explanation for Leaving the Scene

According to the charging documents, Sabàto told investigators he was frightened because he did not have vehicle insurance.

He allegedly explained that he did not stop to investigate what he had struck.

He also reportedly admitted driving through a red light afterward, telling officers he felt unsafe continuing without functioning headlights.

Sabàto said he had intended to report the incident after finishing work.

However, investigators reported that his call came after his girlfriend informed him that police had seized his SUV.

According to the documents, he told officers he called because he feared the worst.

These statements form part of the prosecution’s allegations and have not yet been tested through a completed criminal trial.

Carl Simmonds Was a Father Who Put Family First

For Carl’s relatives, the tragedy is about far more than the celebrity connection surrounding the driver.

Simmonds was a father to a teenage daughter.

His uncle, Isaac Simmonds, described him as someone who worked hard and cared deeply about the people around him.

Carl had held several jobs and enjoyed hunting.

Family members remembered his commitment to relatives and friends.

Isaac told the New York Post that loved ones were gathering to support one another in the aftermath.

Carl’s relationship with his partner, Crystal, made the circumstances of his pᴀssing especially heartbreaking.

He had reportedly been at the hospital to spend time with her while she was unwell.

What should have been an ordinary journey home became his final trip.

His Family Struggles With the Question of Forgiveness

In an emotional interview on November 11, Isaac Simmonds spoke about the family’s grief.

He said relatives were still trying to come together and process what had happened.

The family’s reaction was not centered on the driver’s Hollywood background.

Instead, they were confronting the loss of someone they loved and the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Isaac acknowledged that he did not know whether the family would ever be ready to forgive Sabàto.

That uncertainty reflects the emotional weight of the allegations.

For Carl’s loved ones, the knowledge that the driver allegedly continued without checking on the injured pedestrian has made an already devastating loss harder to understand.

Hollywood Father Issues Public Statement

The arrest also prompted a response from Sabàto’s father, actor Antonio Sabàto Jr.

The actor is known for appearances in General Hospital and Melrose Place.

Jack’s mother, Virginia Madsen, received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Sideways.

On November 11, Antonio addressed the situation on Instagram.

He described the matter as deeply personal and asked the public to respect the privacy of those involved.

He emphasized his unconditional love for his children.

He also offered condolences to Carl Simmonds’ family.

“My thoughts and prayers are with them as well,” he wrote.

At the time of reporting, Madsen had not issued a publicly verified statement addressing the charges.

Judge Sets Bail and Restricts Driving

Sabàto appeared in court on November 10.

A judge set bail at $5,000 and imposed a condition prohibiting him from driving.

The court also established an additional financial penalty if he failed to attend future hearings.

Sabàto faces a felony charge for allegedly leaving an accident scene without helping an injured person.

He also faces a misdemeanor charge related to leaving the scene of a collision involving injury or de*th.

The charges concern his alleged conduct after the collision.

Authorities have not announced that he has been convicted of intentionally harming Simmonds.

As of November 11, Sabàto remained in custody, with another court appearance scheduled for November 12.

Police Continue Searching for Evidence

Investigators are asking witnesses and anyone with additional surveillance recordings to contact Anchorage police.

The investigation may help clarify the circumstances of the collision and the driver’s actions afterward.

A central issue is what Sabàto knew when his vehicle struck Simmonds.

Another is whether the evidence supports the charges related to his decision to leave.

For Carl’s relatives, however, no courtroom outcome can reverse what happened.

They have lost a father, partner, nephew and friend.

A Hospital Visit That Ended in Heartbreak

Carl Simmonds had gone to the hospital to spend time with someone he loved.

He was returning during the early morning hours when the collision occurred.

His family expected him to continue the life he had built around his daughter, partner and loved ones.

Instead, they were left preparing to say goodbye.

A 42-year-old father. A quiet Alaska roadway before sunrise. A collision captured on camera. And a driver who allegedly left without stopping to help.

The legal process will determine Sabàto’s responsibility under Alaska law.

But for Carl’s family, the loss is already permanent.

Their most painful question is not about Hollywood fame or public attention. It is why a man who had just visited his sick partner never made it safely home.

Sources

Alaska Public Media — November 10, 2026

Police investigation, surveillance footage and detailed criminal allegations