Traffic along a busy stretch of Pacific Highway near Old Town came to a standstill today after a male pedestrian was struck and left unconscious, according to San Diego police. Emergency crews rushed the man to a nearby hospital with multiple injuries while officers shut down the roadway and began piecing together what happened. Drivers found themselves stuck in both directions as the closure stretched between key Old Town access points.
Officers were first alerted when a call came in about a traffic incident in the 4600 block of Pacific Highway, FOX 5 San Diego reported. Investigators told the outlet the pedestrian had been standing in the roadway when he was hit, and said the cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Where pedestrian safety stands in San Diego
The crash lands in the middle of an ongoing citywide conversation about pedestrian safety and San Diego's push toward its Vision Zero goals to cut traffic deaths. Earlier this year, residents and safety advocates renewed calls for faster improvements after a series of deadly crashes, as reported by KPBS.
Statewide traffic data compiled by UC Berkeley's SafeTREC show San Diego County recorded 84 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, underscoring the risks people on foot face along fast-moving corridors like Pacific Highway.
Closure, traffic impact and investigation
As detectives worked the scene Friday, Pacific Highway was shut down in both directions between Rosecrans Street and SeaWorld Drive, and police urged drivers to steer clear and find another way around. Officials told FOX 5 San Diego that "it is undetermined how long the full closure will last" while crews handled the investigation and roadway cleanup. Nearby surface streets saw slowdowns as tow trucks and emergency vehicles moved through the area.
Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego Police Department's non-emergency line at 619-531-2000, according to the San Diego Police Department. Investigators are continuing to collect details about the crash, and this story will be updated as SDPD releases more information.
