A woman was struck and killed this morning on northbound U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose after she stepped into moving traffic, according to authorities. Emergency crews responded but pronounced her dead at the scene, and officers shut down lanes while they worked the crash and launched an investigation.
The California Highway Patrol said officers were dispatched at about 1:16 AM to a report of a vehicle collision on the northbound 101 just north of San Antonio Street, according to KRON4. Investigators found the woman in a travel lane, and traffic in the area slowed significantly as crews documented the scene and cleared the freeway.
Pedestrian Crashes On Freeways Are Often Fatal
Pedestrians on high-speed freeways have little protection and almost no margin for error, which is why these incidents so often end in tragedy. Fatal crashes involving people on foot along Highway 101 in San Jose have occurred multiple times this year, as CBS San Francisco has reported. Officials routinely stress that trying to cross active freeway lanes is extremely dangerous, and investigators regularly put out calls for witnesses after these kinds of collisions.
Investigative Details
The car that struck the woman was a 2017 Infiniti driven by a 24-year-old San Jose man who stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers, KRON4 reported. The CHP's preliminary findings indicate the pedestrian stepped into the driver's lane from the left. Investigators say the driver tried to swerve away but still hit the woman. Authorities added that alcohol and drugs do not appear to have been factors as they continue to piece together what happened.
How To Help
Anyone who saw the crash or has video from the area is urged to call the California Highway Patrol's San Jose area office at (408) 961-0900, according to the agency's office listing. The CHP is leading the investigation and has asked that anyone with information contact its San Jose office so investigators can follow up.
