Anchorage police say crash circumstances remain under investigation
Mary Peltola and her family sustained minor injuries Saturday when another vehicle crashed into the car carrying them as they traveled in Anchorage to a campaign stop, the Alaska Federation of Natives annual banquet, her campaign said Sunday. Peltola required medical attention, and her campaign said upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel would be rescheduled for later in the week as she recovered.
Mary Peltola participates in a debate in Anchorage, Alaska, on 15 October. Photograph: Kerry Tasker/Reuters
The family was on its way to the Alaska Federation of Natives annual banquet, a campaign stop, when another vehicle crashed into the one transporting Peltola and her family, the campaign said. Peltola required medical attention after the collision.
Anchorage Police Department responded at about 6:55 p.m. Saturday to what the department described as a “multi-vehicle collision.” The department said Mary Peltola’s family and the occupant of a second vehicle were taken to a local hospital “with non-life-threatening injuries,” while the occupant of a third vehicle refused medical transport.
A statement from the Anchorage Police Department said: “The circumstances of the collision are under investigation.”
Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce said in a statement: “Mary and her family sustained minor injuries but are in good spirits.” She added: “Unfortunately, per the advice of medical professionals, Mary’s upcoming events in Fairbanks and Bethel will be rescheduled for later in the week as she takes time to recover.”
Bruce said: “Mary is disappointed that the accident is delaying the start of her Alaska Always tour, and she is eager to get back on the campaign trail to speak directly with Alaskans about her plan to take on the rigged system and lower costs for working families.”
The collision delayed what her campaign announced as the “Alaska Always tour,” an eight-stop push through the last week before election day. Her campaign said she would resume events on Tuesday, with a stop in Homer, Alaska.
Peltola, an Alaska Native, Democrat and former congresswoman, is challenging Republican incumbent senator Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s lone US Senate seat, hoping to become the first Democrat in nearly two decades to represent the state in the Senate. Both candidates have tried to rally support from Alaska Native voters, a key constituency in the high-stakes race that has become one of the most watched in the nation.
Mary Peltola, center, celebrates with her family and supporters as ranked-choice tabulations were announced in November 2022 in Anchorage, Alaska. Photograph: Loren Holmes/AP
On Friday, Donald Trump ordered the Justice Department to block certification of the Senate election in Alaska if Sullivan loses. The lawsuit cites potential confusion with another Republican candidate who is listed on the ranked-choice ballot as Daniel J Sullivan Jr, a retired schoolteacher.