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ADELANTO, San Bernardino County, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 — An adult man died early Sunday morning, October 4, after a box truck struck him on Air Expressway in Adelanto. The crash was reported just after midnight east of Jonathan Street.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said deputies responded around 12:07 a.m. to a report of a vehicle that had hit a pedestrian. Arriving deputies reportedly gave aid to the man, who was lying in the roadway, until fire crews arrived. Fire personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, according to a sheriff's spokeswoman.
The driver of the box truck stopped a short distance away at Air Expressway and Adelanto Road, where deputies made contact with him.
The pedestrian's identity had not been released as of this writing. Authorities have not said what led up to the crash, and the investigation remains open.
We are deeply sorry for the loss suffered by the victim's family.
When Pedestrian Crashes Are Most Likely to Turn Deadly
Nighttime hours carry a lot of pedestrian deaths, and the stretch between evening and early morning is when visibility drops fastest for drivers. Streetlights and headlights cover less ground than daylight does, and a person crossing a wide roadway like an expressway can be hard to see until a vehicle is close.
Weekend overnight hours add other factors. Traffic on arterial roads thins out, but the vehicles still on the road, including commercial trucks on overnight routes, often move at higher speeds with less congestion to slow them down. Fatigue also plays a larger role late at night and in the early morning, for both drivers and pedestrians.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities decreased from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023. Even with that decline, late-night and early-morning crossings remain some of the riskiest times for people on foot, particularly on roads built for higher-speed traffic instead of pedestrian crossings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most pedestrian accidents happen?
Many occur on wider roads designed for vehicle speed rather than foot traffic, especially at intersections or mid-block crossings with limited lighting or marked crosswalks.
Are pedestrian accidents more common at night?
Yes. Reduced visibility, higher vehicle speeds on less congested roads, and driver fatigue all contribute to a higher share of pedestrian deaths after dark.
What should a pedestrian do after being hit by a car?
If possible, call 911 immediately, stay as still as safe to avoid further injury, and seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor, since some symptoms take hours to appear.
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
Pedestrians generally have the right of way in marked and unmarked crosswalks, but drivers and pedestrians both carry a responsibility to watch for each other, especially where lighting is poor.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Adelanto, CA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away so emergency responders and law enforcement can reach the scene quickly. Even if someone feels fine immediately afterward, a medical check is worth getting, since injuries like internal bleeding or concussions are not always obvious at first.
Witnesses should stay at the scene if it is safe to do so and share what they saw with responding deputies or officers, since eyewitness accounts often matter in these investigations. If you were nearby, taking photos of the road, lighting conditions, and any skid marks can help investigators piece together what happened.
Families of those affected should expect that an investigation into a nighttime pedestrian crash can take time, particularly when the person struck has not yet been identified publicly. Staying in contact with the agency handling the case is often the most direct way to get updates as they become available.
