A driver was killed and two passengers suffered serious injuries early Thursday when their car slammed into a concrete wall in North San Jose, in a crash that authorities say was the city's 40th traffic death so far this year. First responders were dispatched to the area of Zanker Road and Daggett Drive after the solo-vehicle collision, which left local roads closed for hours as investigators worked the scene.
The vehicle crashed into a concrete wall in the center median of Zanker Road, according to NBC Bay Area, which reported that the driver ultimately succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Two passengers were also sent to a hospital with major injuries and have since stabilized, the station reported, citing the San Jose Police Department. As of Thursday, the driver's identity had not been released, according to KRON4.
Accounts of the exact timing differ slightly. CBS News reported the crash happened around 3:30 a.m. near Zanker Road and Daggett Drive, while the Mercury News placed the collision at around 3:26 a.m. in the same area. Exactly what led up to the crash remains under investigation, per the CBS News report.
Roads Shut Down As Investigation Continues
Police advised motorists to avoid the area and use alternate routes while road closures remained in place amid the ongoing investigation.
The driver's name has not been made public. Per the same Mercury News account, their identity will be released by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office pending identification and notification of next of kin.
A Rising Toll On San Jose Streets
The crash marked San Jose's 40th traffic death of 2026, compared with 28 recorded traffic fatalities at the same point in 2025, the Mercury News reported. That climbing count comes even as the city has pursued its Vision Zero traffic-safety initiative, which the City of San Jose says led the City Council to adopt a resolution lowering speed limits on 23 street segments around the city.
San Jose also maintains a public crash-locations dataset, tracking incidents known to the city since 1977, according to the City of San Jose. The city's Traffic Crashes Dashboard currently reflects data through the 2020-2024 period, the most recent five-year span available.
For now, the cause of Thursday's crash remains unresolved, and police have not released further details about what preceded the vehicle striking the median wall. Investigators had not indicated when more information, including the driver's identity, might be released.
