Published: June 3, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(San Diego, CA) – Two older pedestrians sustained serious injuries early Thursday after a pickup truck struck them as they walked across a marked crosswalk in San Diego's Rancho Bernardo neighborhood, authorities said.
According to the San Diego Police Department, a 74-year-old woman behind the wheel of a 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning struck a 76-year-old woman and a 77-year-old man who were crossing Hispano Drive at the time. Police said the two pedestrians were in a marked crosswalk when they were hit.
The woman who was struck suffered several fractures to her leg, while the man sustained a skull fracture and a hematoma at the back of his head, police reported. Both were transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment.
Investigators said the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The department noted that the collision was still being investigated and that impairment was not considered a factor.
Analysis of the Rancho Bernardo Crosswalk Collision
Collisions involving pedestrians in marked crosswalks are typically examined under California Vehicle Code section 21950, which directs drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within a marked crosswalk while also placing a duty of care on the pedestrians themselves. Where evidence shows a pedestrian was lawfully within a crosswalk, investigators commonly assess whether the approaching driver fulfilled that statutory duty to yield.
Investigators in pedestrian cases also frequently look at speed. Under California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, a driver may not travel faster than is reasonable and prudent given conditions such as visibility and the roadway. If the evidence were to indicate that a vehicle's speed was not appropriate for the setting, that could become a relevant line of inquiry, though no such finding has been reported here.
Because this analysis is general, none of these statutes should be read as a conclusion about what occurred or who, if anyone, bore responsibility. California also allocates non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault under Civil Code section 1431.2, which is why agencies and any later civil review tend to reconstruct the sequence of events carefully before assigning any percentages.
What Injured Pedestrians and Their Families Can Do
People hurt in a crosswalk collision can take several practical steps: request a copy of the official police report, seek prompt and ongoing medical evaluation even when injuries are initially described as non-life-threatening, and preserve evidence such as photographs, vehicle information, and witness contacts. California generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and shorter deadlines can apply in certain situations, so acting early helps protect those rights. If you or a loved one was injured and have questions about your options, To discuss a specific situation, call or text (888) 800-6731 or click here for 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. PATCH – 2 Elderly Pedestrians Seriously Injured In San Diego Crosswalk Crash – Patch: https://patch.com/california/san-diego/2-elderly-pedestrians-seriously-injured-san-diego-crosswalk-crash
