A late-night collision on El Cajon Boulevard in University Heights left a 36-year-old pedestrian with devastating injuries, including an open leg fracture and a partial amputation of his foot, according to San Diego police. First responders rushed the man from the 2300 block of the busy corridor to a local hospital on Saturday night.
According to FOX5 San Diego, the crash happened around 9:15 PM. A 37-year-old man driving a 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 struck the pedestrian as he crossed from the north sidewalk toward the south side of El Cajon Boulevard, outside a marked crosswalk. Investigators with the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division told the station the driver is not suspected of being under the influence, while the pedestrian had been drinking before the collision.
El Cajon Boulevard’s ongoing safety worries
El Cajon Boulevard is one of San Diego’s busiest east-west arteries, and crashes like this keep the spotlight on how safe it really is for people on foot after dark. Recent collisions in the corridor have stirred fresh anxiety about crosswalk visibility, driver behavior, and lighting along the stretch.
Hoodline previously covered a 2024 University Heights collision in which a pedestrian suffered serious injuries, a case that amplified neighborhood calls for better protections and traffic calming on the boulevard; see serious injuries in a 2024 crash.
Traffic investigators combing through evidence
SDPD’s Traffic Division is now piecing together exactly what happened on Saturday night. Investigators plan to review witness statements along with any available surveillance or traffic camera footage to determine whether traffic violations occurred, according to FOX5 San Diego. Police have not released the pedestrian’s name or the hospital where he is being treated.
What neighbors can expect next
In serious crashes like this, police typically turn to the public for help filling in the gaps. In a separate 2023 University Heights case, officers urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers, and the Times of San Diego reported that investigators searched for both video and eyewitness accounts.
That sort of methodical review is standard. Traffic investigations can take days or even weeks as officers sort through recordings, statements, and medical records to lock in a clear picture of how a crash unfolded.
