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BERKELEY, Alameda County, CA, Sept. 28, 2026 — A 20-year-old man was in critical but stable condition after he was struck by a car while crossing Telegraph Avenue at Carleton Street Friday night, September 25, according to police. The crash shut down a stretch of the roadway for hours.
The man was reportedly crossing within a crosswalk at about 10:09 p.m. when a car traveling roughly 25 to 30 mph hit him, according to police findings cited in local reporting. He was knocked unconscious at the scene and taken under emergency lights and sirens to Highland Hospital in Oakland, the region's Level I trauma center for Alameda County.
The driver, described as a 64-year-old Oakland woman heading southbound on Telegraph, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police said. Officers have said drug or alcohol impairment does not appear to have played a role in the crash, though the investigation continues.
Berkeley's Fatal Accident Investigation Team responded to the scene, a unit deployed for crashes involving severe or life-threatening injuries as well as fatal ones. Police closed Telegraph Avenue between Derby Street and Parker Street shortly after the crash, and the road reportedly did not reopen until around 1:30 a.m., giving investigators time to document the scene in the busy Southside neighborhood near campus housing.
It remains unclear whether investigators will issue citations once the crash reconstruction is complete, or whether any changes are planned for the intersection. The man's condition at Highland Hospital has not been updated publicly.
We wish the injured a complete and speedy recovery.
When Pedestrian Crashes Happen The Most
Darkness affects visibility and reaction times. Streetlights, headlights and reflective clothing all narrow the margin drivers have to spot someone stepping into a crosswalk, and that margin shrinks further on a busy commercial strip where headlights, storefront signs and other cars compete for attention.
Weekend nights are a risky scenario. Foot traffic near restaurants, bars and campus housing tends to peak later in the evening, right as driver fatigue is rising and traffic volume is dropping, a combination that can make some drivers relax their attention even as pedestrian activity stays heavy.
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, most fatal pedestrian crashes in the state continue to cluster in nighttime hours, when visibility drops and reaction time matters most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the right of way at a crosswalk?
Under California law, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection and slow down as needed to let them cross safely.
What can drivers do to avoid hitting someone on foot?
Slowing down near intersections, scanning both sides of the road before turning, and avoiding distractions like phones give drivers more time to spot and react to a pedestrian in or near a crosswalk.
What injuries commonly result from pedestrian crashes?
Head trauma, broken bones, and internal injuries are common, since a pedestrian has no protection from the impact of a moving vehicle.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Berkeley, CA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 immediately so paramedics and police can respond. Even if injuries seem minor at first, a medical evaluation is important, since some injuries, especially head and internal injuries, aren't obvious right away.
Cooperating with police and giving a clear, factual account of what happened helps investigators reconstruct the crash accurately. Keeping records of medical visits and any official crash report can also help pedestrians and their families down the line, whether for insurance purposes or simply to understand what occurred.
