Key Aspects:
- A 57-year-old female cruise passenger passed away after a freak vehicle accident in Ketchikan, Alaska on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
- The vehicle crashed through a fence and ended up in nearby Ketchikan Creek. Bystanders intervened to rescue the driver.
- Five cruise ships were in port on Thursday but no cruise line has released a statement to confirm which vessel the guest was sailing on.
What should have been an enjoyable day exploring the Last Frontier turned into tragedy for a cruise traveler who lost her life in a traffic accident in Ketchikan.
On Thursday, September 4, 2025, a 57-year-old woman from Auburn, Indiana was killed in what appears to have been a freak accident.
According to KTUU Alaska’s News Source, the incident happened at approximately 8:40 a.m. in downtown Ketchikan near Creek Street. A parked vehicle suddenly accelerated, broke through a nearby fence, and landed in Ketchikan Creek.
Several pedestrians were hit while bystanders (local residents and tourists) jumped into the creek to rescue the driver from the rapidly submerging car. One bystander, Dylan Self, used a rock to break the car’s window to extract the driver and performed CPR until emergency personnel could take over.
“I pulled her out and placed her on top of the roof of the car,” Self said. “I started doing CPR and that’s when a little bit of water came out and she started trying to get the water out herself.”
The swift-water rescue team from the Ketchikan Fire Department pulled people from the creek and crews later removed the vehicle and began repairs.
Two victims were transported to the PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center in critical condition, and the Indiana woman was later pronounced deceased at the medical center.
Worth Reading: Cruise Passenger Sues Ketchikan After Accident In Port
Five cruise ships from three different cruise lines were visiting Ketchikan on Thursday. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss was in port, as well as Holland America Line’s Eurodam and Koningsdam, along with Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess and Sapphire Princess.
As many as 16,000 cruise guests may have been visiting Ketchikan on Thursday, depending on close to full capacity each ship was booked.
It has not been confirmed which ship the deceased guest was sailing on. Based on the timing of the ships’ arrivals, however, it could not have been either Koningsdam or Sapphire Princess, both of which arrived in Ketchikan after the accident.
No cruise line has made a statement about the incident. This will help safeguard the woman’s privacy and that of her traveling companions, family members, and friends at this very upsetting time.
Undoubtedly, the accident will be thoroughly investigated. It is possible that a medical incident or a mechanical problem could have contributed to the car’s erratic behavior and caused the accident.
The incident has not impacted Friday’s cruise visits to Ketchikan, though the boardwalk area where the accident occurred remains closed as repairs continue.
Accidents Can Happen in Any Port of Call
Unfortunate accidents can and do happen in different ports of call for a variety of different reasons.
Less than three weeks ago, a tour bus accidentally hit two cruise guests in Livorno, Italy, and one passed away from their injuries.
Just one year ago, in September 2024, a tour bus in Skagway, Alaska overturned and injured 12 cruise guest passengers. In that accident, the bus driver suffered a medical episode.
An elderly woman unfortunately passed away following an electric wheelchair malfunction in December 2024 while she was visiting St. Maarten on a cruise.
Vehicle accidents, including on scooters and motorcycles, are frequent causes of crashes. Cruise lines often warn guests not to rent such vehicles to use in port due to unknown or inconsistent safety regulations.
Some accidents are also caused by foul weather, such as strong winds that contributed to an elderly couple’s death in Greece in August 2025.
While thousands of cruise guests so happily and safely visit ports of call all over the world, travelers should always remain vigilant in unfamiliar places.
