Available 
BLOOMINGTON, San Bernardino County, Calif., Oct. 9, 2026 — A pedestrian was injured on Thursday afternoon, October 8, when a vehicle struck them at a gas station on Valley Boulevard. The crash was reported shortly before 4:40 p.m. at a fueling station in the 18600 block of Valley Boulevard.
The California Highway Patrol said the driver did not stay at the scene. The call was initially classified as a vehicle versus pedestrian crash, with a note that the driver had reportedly not been paying attention before striking the person on foot.
Fire crews were sent to the scene to treat the injured pedestrian. The extent of the injuries has not been released.
A log entry also indicates the injured person told a gas station employee they believed they had been struck intentionally as they walked in front of the vehicle. That account has not been independently confirmed, and the CHP has not said whether it is treating the crash as deliberate or accidental. The incident remains classified as a hit-and-run, and no description of the vehicle or driver has been made public.
The California Highway Patrol has not announced an arrest. Anyone with information has not yet been publicly asked to come forward, and it is not known whether surveillance video from the station is being reviewed.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
When Pedestrian Crashes Happen at Gas Stations and Parking Lots
Crashes between vehicles and pedestrians in parking lots and fueling areas tend to cluster around certain times of day rather than certain seasons. Late afternoon and early evening, when lots fill up with commuters stopping for gas or errands on the way home, bring more cars and more people on foot into the same tight space at once. Low sun angles around that time of day can also make it harder for drivers to see someone stepping out from between pumps or parked cars.
Distraction plays a bigger role in these low-speed settings than outright impairment. Drivers pulling in and out of stalls are usually looking at pumps, signage, or their phones rather than scanning for people walking behind or beside their vehicle. Because speeds in lots are usually low, many of these crashes cause injuries rather than deaths, but a sudden impact can still knock a person down hard enough to need emergency care.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities decreased from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023, a sign that even as lot and roadway layouts change, some safety gains are being made statewide. Gas stations and strip mall lots remain a common setting for lower-speed pedestrian collisions because they combine pedestrian foot traffic, idling vehicles, and drivers who are usually distracted by the errand itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injuries are most common in pedestrian accidents?
Even at low speeds, pedestrians struck by vehicles can suffer leg and hip fractures, head injuries, and bruising or soft-tissue damage from the fall itself. Injury severity usually rises with vehicle speed and the angle of impact.
What are the most common causes of pedestrian accidents?
Driver inattention, failure to yield, and limited visibility are frequent factors, especially in parking lots and at intersections where a driver's view of someone on foot may be blocked.
How does vehicle speed affect pedestrian survival?
Lower speeds generally mean a greater chance of survival and less severe injury, which is part of why most lot and station-area collisions result in injury rather than death.
Where do most pedestrian accidents happen?
A large share occur at or near intersections and in parking areas, where vehicles and pedestrians cross paths frequently, and visibility can be limited.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Bloomington, CA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 right away so paramedics and police can respond. Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since some injuries like concussions or internal bruising aren't obvious right away.
If you're able, try to note details that could help investigators: the time, what you saw, and anything about the vehicle or driver, including a license plate if visible. Gas stations and shopping centers usually have surveillance cameras, so flagging the crash to staff quickly can help preserve that footage.
Filing a report with local police or the California Highway Patrol creates an official record, which matters even in cases where the driver leaves the scene. Following up with your own doctor in the days after the crash, even after an ER visit, helps make sure any delayed symptoms are caught and documented.
