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MONTECITO HEIGHTS, Los Angeles County, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 — A pedestrian was hospitalized early Tuesday, September 22, after being struck by a vehicle on the 110 Freeway in Montecito Heights, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision prompted a SigAlert on the freeway.
The California Highway Patrol said the pedestrian was hit around 2:57 a.m. on the 110 Freeway near Pasadena Avenue. The pedestrian was taken to a hospital.
Los Angeles Fire Department personnel were seen on video treating the pedestrian at the site of the crash.
A SigAlert covering the number 2 and 3 lanes of the freeway near Pasadena Avenue was issued after the crash and lifted at 4:12 a.m.
The circumstances that led to the collision remain under investigation. We wish those injured a full recovery.
A Common Misconception About Freeway Pedestrian Crashes
Many people assume pedestrian crashes are mostly a surface-street problem, tied to crosswalks, intersections and slow neighborhood traffic. Freeways feel like places pedestrians simply do not go, so a collision there can seem like a fluke rather than part of a larger pattern.
But pedestrians do end up on freeways and parkways for all kinds of reasons: stalled cars, foot traffic near on-ramps, people crossing where sound walls or fencing are incomplete. When a person is struck at freeway speeds, outcomes tend to be worse than a comparable low-speed street crash, simply because there is less time to react and less distance to stop.
The bigger picture also runs counter to the assumption that pedestrian deaths are rising everywhere. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian fatalities decreased from 1,213 in 2022 to 1,106 in 2023. That decline suggests the problem is not fixed, but it is not getting uniformly worse either, and freeway-specific incidents like this one remain a smaller, distinct slice of the overall pedestrian safety picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the speed of the vehicle change a pedestrian's odds of survival?
Yes. Higher vehicle speeds mean less time for a driver to react and greater impact force in a crash, both of which raise the risk of severe injury or death for a pedestrian.
Where do most pedestrian crashes happen?
Most occur on city streets and at intersections, though crashes also happen on freeways and highways, often involving disabled vehicles, roadside work, or people crossing where they should not be.
Are pedestrian crashes more likely at night?
Reduced visibility after dark is a factor in a large share of pedestrian crashes, especially on roads with limited lighting like freeways and parkways.
What should someone do after being struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian?
Seek medical evaluation right away, even if injuries seem minor, and make sure a police report documenting the crash is filed.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Montecito Heights, CA
Anyone involved in or who witnesses a pedestrian crash should call 911 immediately so paramedics and law enforcement can respond. Getting checked by medical professionals matters even when injuries seem minor, since some symptoms take hours or days to appear.
If you are a witness, try to note the time, location and any details you can safely observe, since this information helps investigators reconstruct what happened. Cooperating with responding agencies, whether that's the CHP or local police, helps ensure an accurate record of the incident for everyone involved.
