YAKIMA, Yakima County, Wash., Sept. 21, 2026 — A 71-year-old man died Saturday night, September 19, after being struck by a pickup truck while crossing North 1st Street in his wheelchair, according to the Yakima Police Department. The crash happened at the North 1st Street and East F Street intersection.
Officers were sent to the 500 block of North 1st Street around 11:05 p.m. after reports of a vehicle versus pedestrian collision. Yakima Fire crews and AMR medics treated the man at the scene but could not save him. He was pronounced dead there.
Police said the man was crossing North 1st Street at East F Street in his wheelchair when he was hit by a southbound 2019 Chevrolet pickup.
The Yakima Police Department Traffic Unit is continuing to investigate and is asking anyone with information to come forward. Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased.
Why Wheelchair Users Face Higher Risk in Vehicle Crashes
Crashes between vehicles and pedestrians using wheelchairs often come down to visibility and timing. A person in a wheelchair sits lower than a standing pedestrian, which can put them below a driver's direct line of sight, especially at night or in a vehicle with a tall front end like a pickup truck or SUV. Drivers scanning for pedestrians at head height can miss someone seated well below the hood line until it is too late to stop.
Vehicle front-end height and shape also change how a person is struck. Taller, flatter front ends common on trucks and SUVs tend to hit higher on the body and can knock a person down and forward, instead of the lower, sloped hoods on sedans that are more likely to strike the legs first. For someone in a wheelchair, a high front-end impact can affect the head, chest, or torso directly, since the seated position removes the buffer that leg contact would otherwise provide a standing pedestrian.
Nighttime crossings add another layer of risk. Reduced streetlight coverage, dark clothing, and headlight glare all make it harder for drivers to spot a low-profile wheelchair user in time to react.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 77 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can drivers do to avoid hitting a pedestrian, including someone in a wheelchair?
Slow down at intersections and crosswalks, scan low as well as at eye level, and assume someone could be crossing even where visibility is poor. Extra caution is needed at night and around any vehicle with limited forward visibility.
What injuries are most common when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle?
Head, chest, and lower-body injuries are typical, with severity often tied to vehicle speed and front-end height. Wheelchair users can be especially vulnerable to torso and head impacts because of their seated position.
How much does speed affect a pedestrian's chance of survival?
Survival rates drop sharply as vehicle speed increases at the moment of impact. Even modest reductions in speed at intersections can make the difference between a survivable and fatal collision.
What usually causes these collisions?
Common factors include limited visibility, driver inattention, low light conditions, and pedestrians or wheelchair users entering a roadway outside a driver's expected line of sight.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Yakima, WA
If you witness or are involved in a vehicle versus pedestrian crash, call 911 immediately and avoid moving an injured person unless there is an immediate danger. Wait for Yakima Fire or AMR medics to arrive and let trained personnel assess any injuries, even ones that seem minor at first.
Stay at the scene and cooperate with responding officers. If you're a witness, share what you saw with police and provide contact information in case investigators need a follow-up statement. Anyone with information about a pedestrian crash should reach out to the Yakima Police Department Traffic Unit directly.
