A man in his 60s was hit while using the marked crosswalk at the busy San Pablo Avenue and Ashby Avenue intersection in Berkeley shortly before 7:15 p.m. yesterday, according to early reports. He was conscious when first responders arrived, but was bleeding from the head and was transported to Highland Hospital in Oakland for treatment.
Radio traffic and initial community reports indicate the man told responders he had been in the crosswalk when an SUV traveling at an estimated 35 mph struck him. First responders relayed that “the patient does not recall getting hit” and that “he was trying to get up but was told to lay back down.” The driver reportedly stayed at the scene while Berkeley officers and firefighters assisted the injured pedestrian, according to The Berkeley Scanner.
San Pablo corridor targeted for safety upgrades
San Pablo Avenue, a major north-south artery through Berkeley, has long been on planners’ radar because of a high rate of injury collisions along the corridor. Regional planners and the Alameda County Transportation Commission have outlined near-term safety upgrades, including high-visibility crosswalks, pedestrian hybrid beacons, median refuges, and stronger lighting, aimed at reducing pedestrian and cyclist crashes. Those tools are part of a coordinated San Pablo Avenue corridor project, according to Alameda CTC.
Victim transported to Highland; investigation ongoing
Emergency crews took the injured man to Highland Hospital in Oakland, which is Alameda Health System’s flagship campus and serves as a regional trauma center for Alameda County, according to Alameda Health System. Berkeley police examined the crash scene and are investigating. The Berkeley Scanner reports it has requested additional information from the Berkeley Police Department and plans to update its coverage if officials release more details.
