Crashes on San Pablo Ave.

The San Pablo Avenue crosswalk at Waldo Avenue

Collisions in the last ten days severely injured two pedestrians who were walking across San Pablo Avenue in crosswalks, El Cerrito police reported. A third collision on San Pablo pushed a car that was traveling at 25 miles per hour across the median into oncoming traffic lanes.

Helicopter Transport on Nov. 15

One of the accidents, which occurred at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the crosswalk at Waldo Avenue, caused life-threatening injuries to a 70-year-old woman who was taken by helicopter to a regional trauma center. As of Nov. 18 she was in critical but stable condition, according to El Cerrito police.

Be Aware, Police Chief Urges

Police Chief Paul Keith urged residents to be extra safety conscious at this time of year and keep in mind that visibility suffers when it gets dark earlier.

Pedestrians should not assume that drivers will see them, even when in a crosswalk. Drivers should be carefully scanning for pedestrians at all times. Of course, drivers who have been drinking should not drive.

The accidents in which pedestrians in crosswalks were struck by cars did not involve drunk drivers, police said.

Two Drivers ‘Did Not See Pedestrians’

The car that struck the 70-year-old woman in the crosswalk at Waldo Avenue was driven by a man in his 90s who had a valid driver’s license, was driving at the speed limit of 30 mph and was not under the influence of alcohol, Keith said. The driver told police he never saw the pedestrian until he hit her. He was shaken up but not injured.

When El Cerrito police and emergency medical services personnel arrived at the scene in response to the call at 2:19 p.m., they decided to call a Life Flight helicopter to take the injured woman to the regional trauma center.

The accident is still under investigation, said Captain Lauren Caputo.

In another collision that happened at 6:34 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, a pedestrian in a crosswalk was struck by a car traveling north on San Pablo Avenue at Madison Avenue, police said. The pedestrian was treated for head injuries, an injured arm and broken collar bone.

The driver, who was not under the influence of alcohol, told police he did not see the pedestrian as he approached the intersection.

Rear-Ended, Pushed Into Oncoming Lanes

The third collision happened Monday, Nov. 10, at 6:49 p.m. on San Pablo Avenue south of Moeser Lane. A driver traveling north on San Pablo at about 25 miles per hour was rear-ended by another northbound driver.

The impact pushed the car in front across the median and it came to rest facing into the southbound lanes of San Pablo. After that, the driver who had hit the car from behind continued forward toward the Jay Vee Center parking lot and collided with a parked car.

The driver told officers he looked down at his phone for a moment.

He was arrested for driving under the influence.

Safety Improvements to Be Planned

Chief Keith gave an update at the Nov. 18 City Council meeting. Public Works Director Yvetteh Ortiz told the council that the city is planning some safety improvements prior to the San Pablo Avenue repaving project next year. Details were not immediately available.