Man Fatally Struck by Car in San Jose
SAN JOSE, Calif. – A tragic pedestrian-vehicle accident in San Jose has claimed another life, leaving a South Bay family grieving the loss of their loved one. The incident occurred on Monday, and investigators have described the impact of the collision as severe. The victim was struck in the lower legs and tragically went through the car’s windshield.
Residents of the area expressed their sorrow and concern over the incident. “When someone dies, that’s a damn shame. I mean, it could be my wife. It could be my kid, god forbid,” said resident Dan Pirofalo.
According to traffic investigators, the accident took place at around 6:20 a.m. The victim, a man, was crossing Willow Street heading westbound at Meridian Avenue when a woman driving a Honda Civic struck and killed him while traveling southbound on Meridian Avenue.
“It appears as the male pedestrian was, in fact, in the crosswalk at the time of the accident. (But) he was crossing against a solid red light. That pedestrian did not have the right of way,” explained Steve Aponte of the San Jose Police Department.
The driver of the Honda remained at the scene and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation, according to police.
This tragic incident marks the 22nd fatal collision involving a pedestrian this year and the 37th fatal traffic accident overall. However, these numbers represent a decrease compared to the same period last year, with 26 fatal collisions between pedestrians and vehicles and 48 fatal traffic accidents.
Pam Foley, the councilwoman for District 9 and leader of San Jose’s Vision Zero initiative, commented on the loss of life. “It’s not a data point. It’s an individual who’s lost their life. There’s emptiness in someone’s life because of that death,” said Foley.
Foley also mentioned that while it is too early to determine if the city’s safety measures have contributed to the declining numbers, San Jose has implemented changes to reduce fatal pedestrian collisions. These changes include narrowing high-traffic streets by removing lanes and adding protected bike lanes and crosswalks.
“We’re hopeful. We’re hopeful all of these things will result in lower fatalities,” said Foley.
Despite the presence of four crosswalks and reflective signage, some residents believe that the intersection of Meridian Avenue and Willow Street can be dangerous. Pirofalo expressed concerns about the traffic in the area. “Just through here, no one really pays attention. It’s just so much traffic. They don’t leave any room. And when they find an opening, they take it. And that’s what happens with a lot of the traffic that goes through here,” he said.
However, San Jose police stated that they do not have any indication that the intersection has a higher frequency of accidents, fatal or otherwise.
As this tragic incident reminds us, pedestrian safety remains a critical issue. The loss of life serves as a somber reminder for both authorities and residents to prioritize safety on the roads, implementing measures that can prevent such devastating accidents in the future.