Anchorage police investigate road rage incident

In this Thursday, May 5 photo, a motorcade of motorcycles, led by the Illinois State Police, make their way down Capitol Avenue during the 31st annual Police Officer Memorial Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

In this Thursday, May 5 photo, a motorcade of motorcycles, led by the Illinois State Police, make their way down Capitol Avenue during the 31st annual Police Officer Memorial Day at the State Capitol in Springfield, Ill.

ANCHORAGE — Motorcycle Awareness Month in Alaska is getting off to a high-profile start.

Anchorage police are investigating a weekend road-rage incident in which a pickup driver crowded motorcycle drivers on their way to a “blessing of the bikes” ceremony, part of the official kickoff to riding season. At high speed the truck passed one bike on the road shoulder and veered around another.

The incident was captured on video by a helmet camera. A half-dozen bikers confronted the pickup driver at a stop sign, and after a brief physical altercation, the driver took off through a red light.

Videos of the incident were posted on social media. So was a home address, where bikers were encouraged to confront the pickup driver. However, police say residents of the home were not involved and are feeling threatened.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

A motorcycle safety group, Alaska Bikers Advocating Training and Education, or ABATE, has sponsored motorcycle training classes since 1991 and each year sponsors the Bike Blessing and The Gathering on the Anchorage Park Strip. ABATE board chairman “Big Dave Grizzly” Monroe said Monday he watched the videos and was expecting phone calls.

“I think there’s a lot of blame to go around,” he said.

The pickup driver called police to report bikers had broken his side-view mirror.

Monroe said he was not speaking for ABATE and that he had no information beyond what was shown in videos.

The video shows nearly two dozen motorcycles near the pickup. Some motorcycles drove side-by-side in one lane. The group occupied multiple lanes of A Street, which is not illegal, Monroe said.

“If it was cars doing that, nobody would say a word,” he said.

The motorcycles, he said, may have prevented cars from passing. The truck, he said, took the situation to another level of risk.

“What they did was annoying and frustrating,” he said of the bikers. “What the truck did was dangerous.”

He said he hoped friends of the motorcyclists would speak to them and advise them about riding etiquette. In the confrontation at the stoplight, the pickup driver appeared to grab the helmet of one of the motorcyclists, he said.

The video recorded violations by drivers on both sides, police said. No citations have been issued, said police spokeswoman Renee Oistad in an email. Police have the name of the pickup driver but are not releasing it. They don’t know names of the motorcycle drivers, she said.

She was not aware, she said, of anyone going to the address posted with the video. She had not heard of threats made to anyone living there.

“Just the online threat of calling for people to go to the address and retaliate against the truck driver,” she wrote.

Related stories:

Juneau grand jury indicts driver in high-speed chase from Lemon Creek to North Douglas

Reckless driver evades police, drives through ballpark

Juneau woman honored for helping in fight against heroin in capital city

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of Feb. 15

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

The Tlingit and Haida Elders Group performs the entrance dance at the 89th annual Tribal Assembly of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire file photo)
Trump rescinds Biden executive order expanding tribal sovereignty and self-governance

Order giving Natives more access to federal funds cited in awarding of major Southeast Alaska projects.

The House Finance Committee listens to public testimony about next year’s proposed budget on Friday at the Alaska State Capitol. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
The Alaska House budget currently has a ‘full’ PFD of about $3,800. Except it really doesn’t.

Legislators on all sides agree PFD will shrink drastically before floor vote to avoid $2 billion deficit.

Dylan Court and Emily Feliciano-Soto at a rehearsal of “Necessary Nonsense,” a Theater Alaska production debuting Friday. (Photo courtesy of Theatre Alaska)
Middle schoolers bring ‘Necessary Nonsense’ to life in Theater Alaska Kids Company’s debut play

Imagine a world where “Alice in Wonderland” characters mingle with limerick legends… Continue reading

Jonathan Estes, a parent of three students attending the Dzantik’i Heeni campus, testifies for a safe playground at a special Juneau Board of Education meeting on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau School District submits budget for next school year to Juneau Assembly

The plan assumes $400 BSA hike and no staff vacancies; board also advocates for DH playground.

A totem pole and visitor guide sign on the downtown Juneau cruise ship dock on Thursday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
‘Anecdotal’ signs Juneau’s tourism season may see a dropoff due to Trump’s policies, officials say

Tariffs, talk of recession causing uncertainty and ill will resulting in reports of cancellations.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
Police calls for Wednesday, March 12, 2025

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Gabriel von Eisenstein (David Cangelosi) is pulled in two separate directions by his wife Rosalinda (Sara Radke Brown, right) and Rosalinda’s maid, Adele (Kayla Kohlhase, left) during a dress rehearsal of “Die Fledermaus” on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Juneau Lyric Opera celebrates a chorus of community for 50th anniversary

German operetta “Die Fledermaus” that launched JLO gets revival with old and new voices Friday night.

Most Read