Wrongful death suit filed against CBJ, driver by estate of man run over by vehicle at bank drive-through

Armando Sanchez, 38, died nine days after being hit by truck while lying in lane, according to JPD; lawsuit refers to him as a pedestrian

The drive-through lanes of the Mendenhall Valley branch of True North Federal Credit Union on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

The estate of a man who died after being run over by a city vehicle in the drive-through lane of a bank two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the driver and Juneau’s municipal government.

Armando Sanchez, 38, was struck while lying in a drive-through lane of the Mendenhall Valley branch of True North Federal Credit Union just before 5 a.m. June 1, 2024, according to the Juneau Police Department. He was medevaced out of Juneau for treatment and died on June 10 of that year.

"As a direct and proximate result of the acts and omissions of the Defendants, the Decedent survived for nine days during which he suffered severe physical and emotional pain," the lawsuit filed May 15 of this year in Superior Court in Juneau states.

The lawsuit, which describes Sanchez as a "pedestrian," names Michael Jozef Petrush as the driver of the Chevrolet truck involved in the collision. The City and Borough of Juneau is named as a co-defendant. No hearing dates have been set in the case.

A JPD press release on June 12, 2024, stated that Petrush called a dispatcher to report the collision.

"He drove around a corner into the drive-through lane and did not see the man laying in the roadway immediately around the corner," the release stated. "When the caller stopped, the man sat up, was conscious and talking. It appeared that the cowling of the truck had rolled over the man."

Police and medical officials responding to the scene found that "upon arrival, (Sanchez) was conscious and had sustained abrasions on his back," according to the release. A police spokesperson stated at the time that “there was no indication of impairment of the driver.”

Deputy City Attorney Sherri Layne said Wednesday an internal review of the encounter was conducted, but the findings are confidential since they involve personnel matters. No criminal charges against Petrush related to the incident are listed in the Alaska Court System’s online database.

Layne said she expects to file the city’s response to the lawsuit next week. She said Petrush has died since the incident occurred.

The lawsuit doesn’t affirm or challenge the JPD’s description of events, other than describing Sanchez as a "pedestrian." It does allege Petrush was negligent by failing to "keep his vehicle under proper control," "give full time and attention," "keep a proper lookout," and that "he drove his vehicle in a careless and reckless manner."

"At the time of his death, the Decedent was of excellent health, constitution vigor and habit and had a reasonable expectation of living a normal and healthy life," the lawsuit asserts.

The lawsuit seeks in excess of $100,000 in compensatory damages, plus attorneys’ fees and other possible awards.

Michael Garland, the attorney representing Sanchez’s estate in the lawsuit, did not respond to inquiries by the Juneau Independent as of early Wednesday evening.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.