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BANNING, Riverside County, Calif., Sept. 27, 2026 — A man died on Saturday morning, September 26, after he was struck by a vehicle on State Route 243 near the Smith Creek Bridge outside Banning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The driver did not stay at the scene, and the case is being investigated as a hit-and-run.
A caller reported around 11:43 a.m. that a man was lying on the right shoulder of northbound Route 243 near mile marker 24 and was believed to have been hit by a car. Early reports said he may have been thrown from the roadway, though it was not immediately clear how he was hurt, according to dispatch notes.
Emergency crews, including Cal Fire personnel, responded to the rural stretch near Smith Creek Bridge and requested that officers be sent once the scene was clear. The man was given ground transport to the Banning airport and then flown by helicopter to Desert Regional Medical Center, according to responders on scene; he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators said a vehicle stopped about five miles away, toward Banning, had damage to its right side "consistent with" a pedestrian strike, though it was not confirmed whether it was the vehicle involved. The southbound lane near the crash site was blocked for a time as crews worked, and no vehicle was found at the immediate scene. The California Highway Patrol said the investigation into the hit-and-run remains open.
We are deeply sorry for the loss suffered by the victim's family.
Why Pedestrian Strikes Happen on Rural Highway Stretches Like SR-243
Roads like State Route 243 carry highway speeds through areas with no sidewalks, no marked crossings, and usually no lighting. When a person on foot needs to cross or walk along the shoulder, there is no separated space to do it safely, so drivers and pedestrians end up sharing the same narrow strip of asphalt with little warning of each other.
This kind of arterial design creates a mismatch: vehicles are moving fast enough that a driver has only a second or two to react, while a pedestrian on the shoulder has nowhere to retreat if a car drifts wide. Curves, bridges, and grade changes, like those near a creek crossing, can also block sightlines right at the point where someone might be walking near the road.
Hit-and-run outcomes are more common on these isolated stretches too. Drivers may not immediately realize what they hit, or may panic and keep going, and with fewer witnesses and cameras than in a city corridor, investigators usually have to rely on vehicle damage patterns and tips to identify a car after the fact.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities decreased from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries are most common when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle?
Head trauma, broken bones, and internal injuries are typical, since a person absorbs the impact directly. Being thrown from the point of impact can add a second set of injuries from the fall or landing.
What usually causes these crashes?
Common factors include speeding, distracted driving, poor lighting, and roads without sidewalks or crosswalks that force pedestrians to share the travel lane or shoulder with traffic.
Does vehicle speed change survival odds?
Yes. Pedestrians struck at higher speeds face far lower survival rates than those hit at low speeds, because the force of impact increases sharply as speed rises.
Where do most pedestrian crashes occur?
They cluster on arterial and rural roads without dedicated crossings, particularly where speed limits are higher, and foot traffic is unexpected or unprotected.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Strike in Banning, CA
If you witness or are involved in a pedestrian crash, call 911 immediately and stay on the line until help arrives. Do not move an injured person unless there is an immediate danger, such as oncoming traffic.
Get medical evaluation even for injuries that seem minor at first, since some symptoms of internal injury or head trauma appear later. If you're a witness, try to note the vehicle's direction of travel, color, and any distinguishing damage, information that can matter greatly in a hit-and-run investigation.
Cooperate with responding agencies and provide a statement while details are fresh. If you or someone you know was affected, keep records of medical care and any communication with investigators for your own reference going forward.
