CA Among Deadliest States For Pedestrians: Ranking

CALIFORNIA — Pedestrians make up a higher percentage of people killed in crashes in California than in almost any other state, according to a recent ranking.

The personal injury law firm Injured in Florida analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2017 to 2021 and determined pedestrian deaths as a proportion of total traffic fatalities for each state.

The Golden State was third on the list, with 25.68 percent — or 5,050 — of 19,666 total traffic deaths being pedestrians. New Jersey was first with 30.23 percent, Hawaii came in second with 27.01 percent and New York was fourth with 25.66 percent. Wyoming came in last at 6.47 percent.

"In total there were more than 32,000 pedestrians fatally injured in car crashes between 2017 and 2021, making up around 17% of all road traffic deaths,” a spokesperson for the law firm said in a news release. “Every life lost in a traffic accident is a tragedy, and understanding these patterns is a crucial step towards making our streets safer for everyone.”

There are many recent examples of the dangers pedestrians in California face.

A pedestrian and a cyclist were killed in separate crashes on the same day over the weekend in San Jose, according to police, who said the pedestrian, a woman, was in a crosswalk when she was hit.

A jogger was struck and killed in Fremont earlier in the month by a driver suspected to be under the influence who fled on foot, according to authorities, who responded to a report of a person lying in the road and declared the jogger dead upon arrival.

A 49-year-old woman died in early August after being struck while in a marked crosswalk by a hit-and-run driver in San Diego, police said.