A quiet pre-dawn commute in Sorrento Valley turned chaotic early Thursday when a vehicle left Interstate 805 at the Sorrento Valley Road off-ramp, plowed into an active construction zone and hit a worker, according to San Diego police.
Both the driver and the construction worker were taken to a local hospital. Officials have not released their conditions.
In a post from the San Diego Police Department, officers said the vehicle exited the freeway, entered the work area and struck a pedestrian who was part of the construction crew. Police closed Sorrento Valley Road at the off-ramp and urged drivers to avoid the area while investigators documented the scene and cleared the wreckage.
Officers are investigating a vehicle vs. pedestrian collision at Sorrento Valley Rd & I-805. A vehicle exited the freeway, entered a construction zone, and struck a construction worker. Both the driver and the pedestrian were taken to a local hospital; conditions unknown.… pic.twitter.com/XPE306oJNM
— San Diego Police Department (@SanDiegoPD) January 29, 2026
Scene and traffic impact
The shutdown at the Sorrento Valley off-ramp backed up traffic along the I-805 corridor and into nearby business parks during the morning rush. City crews and traffic units stayed in place while investigators worked to document the collision, remove debris and reopen the roadway.
Work zones remain risky for crews
Caltrans District 11 has repeatedly warned that highway construction zones are dangerous workplaces and has pushed campaigns urging drivers to slow down and watch for crews in the right of way. The agency says work-zone deaths and injuries have climbed in recent years, prompting more outreach and added safety measures.
State steps to curb work-zone speeding
Last year, the Legislature approved AB 289, authorizing the Department of Transportation to pilot automated speed-enforcement cameras in state highway work zones to cut down on speeding and protect road crews. The bill text, available through LegiScan, spells out requirements for signs, public notice and limits on when and where the cameras can be deployed to reduce dangerous intrusions into work areas.
Recent incidents underscore the stakes
As reported by the Times of San Diego, a November 2024 crash in Chollas View sent three Caltrans contractors to the hospital after a driver drove through barricades and into their work site. That collision and similar incidents around the county have fueled calls for tougher enforcement and stronger barriers to protect road workers.
What drivers should do
Authorities say drivers approaching construction zones should slow down, obey posted work-zone speed limits and follow directions from flaggers and traffic control signs.
Anyone who witnessed Thursday morning's collision or has information that could help investigators is asked to call the San Diego Police Department's non-emergency line at 619-531-2000, or call 911 in an emergency.
This story will be updated as San Diego police or hospital officials release more details on the conditions of those injured and whether any charges will be filed. Journalists and readers with additional tips can contact the San Diego Police Department or the city's non-emergency line.
