A pedestrian was found dead early Tuesday morning in lane three on Highway 92 in San Mateo, beneath the Mariners Island Boulevard overpass. The discovery triggered a multi-lane shutdown just west of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge during the morning commute, snarling one of the Peninsula's busiest cross-bay routes.
CHP officers found the pedestrian in lane three beneath the overpass. Authorities have not released any further details about the victim's identity, age, or how long they may have been in the roadway before officers arrived.
A witness told the station they saw a white Ford pickup truck with a rack on its roof stop at the scene, raising questions about whether the vehicle played any role in the death. A CHP spokesperson said the truck's involvement in the pedestrian's death has not been confirmed, and the station notes the investigation remains ongoing. Motorists were advised to use alternate routes and expect delays while crews worked the scene, and all lanes reopened just after 7:30 a.m.
A Freeway Known for Pedestrian Danger
Earlier fatal pedestrian collisions have occurred on Highway 92 in San Mateo, including one near the Delaware Street off-ramp and another at South El Camino Real and 17th Avenue. In September 2023, a pedestrian was fatally struck on Highway 92 near the Delaware Street off-ramp in San Mateo by a CHP patrol vehicle after entering active travel lanes late at night, according to CBS News. Less than a year ago, in January, a female pedestrian was fatally struck near the westbound Highway 92 exit on South El Camino Real in San Mateo's Hayward Park neighborhood, a crash that forced a three-hour shutdown of El Camino Real and the freeway off-ramp, as reported by SFGATE.
The pattern extends beyond Highway 92 itself. Hoodline previously reported on a fatal Highway 101 crash in August, when a pedestrian walking in active lanes was struck and killed near the Holly Street overpass in San Carlos.
Why Freeway Walking Is Illegal — and Still Happens
Under California Vehicle Code Section 21960, Caltrans and local authorities may prohibit pedestrians from freeways and expressways; the law provides an exception for occupants of disabled vehicles walking to the nearest exit, according to Justia Law.
Local Leaders Have Already Moved on Street Safety
San Mateo officials have taken some action on pedestrian danger closer to downtown, even as freeway deaths continue. Hoodline reported in September that the San Mateo City Council voted to lower speed limits on nine roads after a driver struck a student near Aragon High School, a decision that followed more than 200 letters from residents urging traffic-calming measures.
A lane closure near Mariners Island Boulevard, like the one Tuesday, can affect commuter and freight traffic across the bay. CHP's investigation into Tuesday's death, including why the pedestrian was in the roadway and the role of the white pickup truck reported at the scene, remains ongoing.
