Alaska ranks fourth in U.S. for light-truck occupant fatalities

Alaska ranks fourth in the United States for fatality rates involving light-truck occupants, according to an analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2020 to 2024. During this five-year period, the state recorded 130 deaths involving occupants of light trucks—a category that includes pickups, SUVs, and vans. These fatalities accounted for approximately 48.7% of all vehicle-occupant deaths in Alaska.

On the Kenai Peninsula, recent federal crash records highlight the local impact of this trend, including fatal collisions on the Seward highway involving pickups and utility vehicles. The study notes that while these vehicles are essential for navigating Alaska’s extreme geography and remote areas, they represent a disproportionately high risk to occupants.

Nationally, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota hold higher percentages of light-truck occupant fatalities. In Alaska, the number of annual deaths fluctuated, with 2022 being the deadliest year with 31 recorded fatalities.