Published: September 3, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Pasadena, CA) – A pedestrian was injured over the weekend when a Pasadena Police vehicle struck him in a traffic lane near Marengo Avenue and Washington Boulevard, according to the department.
The department reported that the collision happened on Sunday, August 30, at roughly 10 p.m., when a marked Pasadena Police vehicle hit an adult who was in a lane of traffic. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening, and the officer was not hurt, the department said.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media the following Wednesday, according to the report. Pasadena's Chief Communications Officer, Lisa Derderian, provided the account of when and where the collision occurred.
The Pasadena Police Major Accident Investigation Team was sent to the scene and is looking into what happened. In a statement, Pasadena Police Chief Gene Harris said, "The Pasadena Police Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) was immediately dispatched and is conducting a thorough investigation. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Pasadena Police Department at 626-744-4241."
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Pasadena Pedestrian Collision
When a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, investigators generally reconstruct the movements of both the person on foot and the driver to determine how the two came together. California law places duties on both sides of these encounters. Under California Vehicle Code section 21950, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, while pedestrians retain a duty of due care. Where a person crosses outside a crosswalk, Vehicle Code section 21954 requires that pedestrian to yield to vehicles that are close enough to present an immediate hazard, but that section also preserves the driver's independent duty to exercise care for pedestrian safety. Which framework applies here would depend on facts, such as the pedestrian's exact position, that the ongoing investigation may clarify.
Because the vehicle involved was a marked police cruiser, additional statutes could enter the analysis. Vehicle Code section 21055 allows an authorized emergency vehicle certain exemptions from ordinary traffic rules when responding to an emergency with a siren sounding and a red lamp displayed. Even when those conditions are met, Vehicle Code section 21056 makes clear that the exemption does not excuse a driver from operating with due regard for everyone's safety. Whether the cruiser was on an emergency response, and whether it was operated with due regard, would be central questions for investigators.
General negligence principles under Civil Code section 1714 hold everyone responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care, reduced by any degree to which the injured person contributed. If evidence were to show a violation of a safety statute, Evidence Code section 669 can create a presumption of negligence when that violation proximately causes the type of harm the statute was meant to prevent. Any recovery would also be shaped by California's comparative-fault rules under Civil Code section 1431.2, which apportion non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault, and by the general measure of tort damages under Civil Code section 3333.
What Injured Pedestrians and Their Families Can Do
Anyone hurt in a collision involving a government vehicle faces both practical and legal deadlines. It helps to obtain a copy of the official collision report, preserve any photographs or video, note the names of witnesses, and follow through on medical care and documentation. Claims involving a public entity carry special rules: Government Code section 911.2 generally requires a written government claim within six months of the incident, and Government Code section 945.4 bars a lawsuit against a public entity until such a claim has been presented and rejected. The broader two-year deadline for personal injury actions under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 also runs in the background. Because these timelines can be short and unforgiving, families with questions may wish to speak with a lawyer early. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Pasadena Car Accident Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. Pasadena Now – Pedestrian Injured After Being Struck by Police Cruiser
