Police say the 33-year-old ran against a red signal at Camino del Rio West and Hancock Street.
SAN DIEGO — A 33-year-old man was fatally struck late Friday by a BMW SUV while crossing an intersection in the city’s Midway District, San Diego police said. The crash happened around 11:15 p.m. at Camino del Rio West and Hancock Street, and the man later died at a hospital.
Police said the pedestrian ran east across the intersection against a red “don’t walk” signal and into the path of a northbound BMW that had a green light. The driver, a 55-year-old woman, remained at the scene and cooperated with officers. Investigators with the Traffic Division are handling the case, and the county Medical Examiner’s Office will release the victim’s name once family is notified. The initial assessment found no evidence of alcohol impairment for the driver, according to police.
Officers were dispatched at about 11:11 p.m. to reports of a collision at the signalized intersection just south of the interchange linking the Midway area to Mission Valley. Responding units found the man in the roadway with serious injuries and requested paramedics, who took him to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Preliminary information indicates the pedestrian entered the crosswalk against the signal,” Officer David O’Brien said. The BMW, described as an SUV, had been traveling north on Camino del Rio West through a green light when the impact occurred, police said.
Authorities described the driver as a 55-year-old woman who stayed to speak with investigators and submitted to standard evaluation. Police said alcohol was not suspected on her part based on the initial investigation. It was not immediately known whether speed played a role. Detectives planned to review traffic cameras, vehicle data and nearby business surveillance to map the sequence of events and verify signal timing. No other vehicles were reported to be involved, and no additional injuries were reported. The east–west pedestrian movement at the intersection was controlled by a red “don’t walk” indication at the time of the crash, according to police.
The Midway District has seen recurring traffic collisions at large arterials that funnel vehicles between the Sports Arena area, Interstate 8 and the Morena corridor. Earlier this year, a separate late-night crash on Sports Arena Boulevard killed a 51-year-old man, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in this commercial zone with wide roads, fast-turn lanes and heavy nighttime activity. Friday’s fatality occurred near warehouses and service businesses that generate truck and delivery traffic after dark, and investigators noted the presence of full traffic control at the intersection where the collision happened.
As with most fatal collisions in the city, the police Traffic Division will produce a case file detailing the crash dynamics, roadway conditions and any contributing factors. That report will be forwarded to the City Attorney’s Office and, if warranted, prosecutors for review. The Medical Examiner will determine the precise cause and manner of death and publicly identify the man after notifying next of kin. Police said additional analyses may include signal phase and timing data, measurements for sight lines and lighting, and a download of the BMW’s event data recorder if available. No criminal charges had been announced as of Wednesday, and no citations had been disclosed.
Neighbors arriving Saturday morning described a familiar scene of police tape and flares guiding drivers around the closed lanes. A delivery worker said the crossing can be confusing late at night when traffic thins and pedestrians try to catch the light. “You think you can make it, but those cars come through fast when it’s green,” he said. Another employee from a nearby business said she frequently hears horns at the intersection after dark and saw officers marking the pavement near the crosswalk before sunrise. A tow truck later removed the BMW after investigators finished documenting the scene.
Police said the road reopened after investigators completed measurements and cleared debris. The Medical Examiner’s Office had not yet released the victim’s identity by Wednesday, Nov. 19. The Traffic Division continues to analyze evidence and witness statements. Officials said the next public update is expected after the Medical Examiner’s identification and completion of preliminary investigative findings.
Author note: Last updated November 19, 2025.