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San Jose sees increase in pedestrian fatalities

SAN JOSE (KRON) — Three pedestrian deaths in five days underscores what is adding up to be deadly year on the streets of San Jose.

The most recent pedestrian fatality in San Jose was a 47-year-old man who was struck by a car as he walked here along Los Gatos Almaden Road.  


He died on Wednesday and became the 23rd pedestrian fatality of 2018. That’s 7 more pedestrian fatalities than the city recorded last year and getting close to 2014’s total, which was a 20 year high.  

More often than not speed was a factor, says California Walks Deputy Director Jamie Fearer.

“Really what we need to do is to reduce speed so that when people do make mistakes, those mistakes don’t end up with somebody dying or being seriously injured,” said Fearer

Many of the fatalities are occurring on wide, high volume corridors like Capitol Expressway, Senter Road and Monterey Road where traffic-calming measures are trying to get drivers’ attention, which is often elsewhere says Fearer.

“There has definitely been an increase in distracted driving but as the same time we’ve got a lot roads that are hostile to people who are walking. There aren’t enough safe places for people to cross,” said Fearer.

A street sign at First and Rosemary marks the spot of a fatal hit-and-run accident on Monday.

It was the first of three hit-and-run accidents that killed two pedestrians and sent two others to the hospital.  

But there is also evidence that pedestrianS themselves are to blame for walking outside the crosswalk or against the light.

“Sometimes when we don’t have safe places to cross people will attempt to cross where they think they can and and that’s when these things can happen,” said Fearer.

Pedestrian safety advocates say the numbers are nothing less than a public health crisis.

Pedestrian deaths account for some 45 percent of total traffic fatalities in San Jose so far this year compared with the national rate of 16 percent.