A pedestrian crossing the freeway near an underpass in Mission Valley was struck and killed Monday on the SR-163 to I-8 connector ramp, according to the California Highway Patrol. All lanes of the ramp were blocked, and the driver involved stayed put and dialed 911 rather than fleeing.
Caltrans San Diego first alerted drivers that all lanes of the ramp were blocked due to police activity, as reported by FOX 5 San Diego. CHP later confirmed on scene that a driver fatally struck a pedestrian who was crossing the freeway near the underpass. The driver remained at the collision scene and called 911, the station reported.
The connector ramp sits near Mission Valley.
Why CHP, Not SDPD, Is Running the Investigation
Because the crash happened on a state highway ramp rather than a city street, primary jurisdiction falls to the California Highway Patrol rather than the San Diego Police Department, according to the City of San Diego Open Data Portal. Freeway interchange collisions like this one generate CHP reports rather than local police logs, reflecting how jurisdiction over San Diego's roadways splits between state and municipal authorities depending on where a crash occurs.
A Familiar, Deadly Pattern on San Diego Freeways
This is not the first fatal pedestrian crash to snarl traffic on a San Diego freeway corridor. In September 2026, a man was struck and killed walking near the I-5 overpass on Broadway, a crash Hoodline covered closely at the time.
The SR-163 and I-8 interchange has also seen serious vehicle-only crashes. In July 2025, a fatal multi-vehicle collision on northbound SR-163 near the I-8 interchange forced lane closures and snarled the morning commute, according to i Accident Lawyer. Together, the incidents point to a junction that regularly strains under heavy traffic volume.
Regional Numbers Tell a Mixed Story
San Diego County recorded more than 23,000 motor vehicle collisions in 2025, based on SWITRS data produced in cooperation with CHP, according to the Coast Law Group.
The crash underscores the risks pedestrians face on freeway corridors.
