Yesterday's walk in San Diego's College area ended in tragedy when a 99-year-old woman was struck and killed while walking along the north side of Cleo Street.
The collision happened in the 6400 block of Cleo Street, near Gary Street. Paramedics transported the woman to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, according to police.
SUV Involved in Deadly College Area Crash
The San Diego Police Department said the vehicle involved was a 2022 Chevrolet Equinox compact crossover SUV and that the crash occurred at about 8 AM, according to ABC 10News. SDPD Officer John Buttle told the outlet the victim's name is being withheld pending family notification. Officials did not immediately release additional details about the driver or any possible citations.
Crash Site Already Flagged for Safety Fixes
The 6400 block of Cleo Street sits inside the College area near San Diego State University, a corridor the city has targeted for pedestrian and traffic-safety work. The City of San Diego’s draft College Area Community Plan lays out pedestrian crossings, curb extensions and traffic-calming measures designed to reduce severe collisions in high-foot-traffic corridors. Residents and student advocates have long urged faster implementation of those measures.
Recent Deadly Collisions Fuel Concern
The crash follows other recent deadly pedestrian collisions in the city. In mid-June, a University of San Diego student was struck and killed by a marked SDPD patrol vehicle, which prompted a departmental press release and an ongoing investigation. The San Diego Police Department noted that the Traffic Unit and Collision Investigations Bureau responded and provided contact information for anyone with information. Those incidents have amplified calls for safer crossings near campus roads.
Investigators from the San Diego Police Department will handle the probe into the Cleo Street collision, and authorities have not said whether any charges or citations are expected. The department has withheld the victim's name pending family notification, ABC 10News reported. Anyone with relevant video or information can contact SDPD's Traffic Unit or non-emergency dispatch, as the department often requests in similar investigations.
