Today, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed a pedestrian at the intersection of W Hedding Street and Coleman Avenue near downtown San Jose, turning a quiet predawn crossing into a homicide investigation. Officers arrived to find the victim already dead at the scene, and police say the vehicle involved had taken off before they got there. The crash shut down the intersection and nearby streets for hours while investigators documented evidence and cleared the area. The identity of the person who died has not yet been released.
According to San José Police Media Relations, officers were called to W Hedding and Coleman at about 2:29 AM for a reported collision and quickly confirmed it was a fatal hit-and-run. The department said the vehicle fled the scene before police arrived and noted that a formal press release with additional information would follow. Roads in the immediate area were closed while members of the Traffic Investigations Unit examined the scene, and drivers were urged to avoid the intersection and use alternate routes. Police did not release any description of the suspect or vehicle in the initial update.
Units are currently in the area of W Hedding St and Coleman Ave investigating a fatal hit-and-run vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. The vehicle fled the area prior to police arrival.
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) March 14, 2026
Road closures will be in place… pic.twitter.com/bYNS2ixxI8
Pedestrian Safety in San Jose
This latest death lands in the middle of a troubling trend for people on foot in San Jose. Pedestrian fatalities have been stacking up this year, with multiple deadly crashes reported in just the last few weeks, according to local coverage. Earlier this month, a woman died in a separate hit-and-run on a San Jose freeway off-ramp, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, and Bay City News Service has reported on other fatal pedestrian collisions in February.
Traffic safety experts have repeatedly flagged a familiar mix of factors in many of these serious crashes, including poor lighting, high vehicle speeds and people crossing outside marked crosswalks. City officials have said they weigh targeted enforcement and potential street design changes when they see clusters of deadly collisions in specific areas.
How to Help and What Officials Say
San Jose police are asking for the public's help as they work to track down the driver in Saturday's hit-and-run. Anyone with information, dashcam footage or security video from the area is urged to contact investigators. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the P3TIPS mobile app or by calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, according to the San José Police Department.
Investigators with the Traffic Investigations Unit plan to canvass nearby homes and businesses and review any available surveillance footage as they reconstruct what happened. The Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner will release the victim's name after next-of-kin notifications are completed. Authorities said no arrests had been reported as of the department's initial update.
What to Expect Next
Police have said a more detailed press release is forthcoming as the investigation develops, and additional information is expected as forensic work and witness interviews progress. Drivers in the area may continue to see lane closures and traffic slowdowns while evidence collection wraps up. Hoodline will update this story when the department posts the formal release.
