Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in Downey, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 201
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 33
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 18
- fatal
- street with the most
- Firestone Blvd
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs Downey safe to walk?
This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. We don't rate cities as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a street is, and busy streets have more crashes partly because more people use them. What the records show: 201 pedestrian crashes were reported in Downey from 2021–2026, 33 of them serious or fatal (18 fatal). The most were at Firestone Blvd & Newville Ave (3). 36% involved a driver turning, 20% turning left. 47% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in Downey
- 36% involved a driver turning, 20% turning left.
- 47% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 23% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 29% happened after dark.
- 13% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in Downey
- 29% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 16% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- 5% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
Set against all pedestrian crashes in California, 2021–2026. Without traffic counts these can't say how risky a street is.
Where pedestrian crashes cluster
Spots with 3 or more reported crashes within about 250 m, worst first.
- 013 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 3 fatal
Firestone Blvd & Newville Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
3 of 3 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 100% happened after dark.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 028 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Firestone Blvd & Lakewood Blvd
A mix of crash types
Of 8 people hit here, 4 were in a crosswalk at the intersection and 2 were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 0313 crashes
Downey Ave & 2nd St
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 5 of 13, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Of 13 people hit here, 8 were in a crosswalk at the intersection and 3 were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 0410 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Imperial Hwy & Paramount Blvd
People hit walking in the road
5 of 10 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing.
- Stay out of the traffic lane: check behind you before stepping out from a parked car, and where there's no sidewalk, walk facing traffic as far from the lane as you can.
- 056 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Lakewood Blvd & Rosecrans Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 6 people were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- Cross at the nearest signal or crosswalk here, even if it's out of your way. Drivers don't expect people mid-block.
- 065 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Florence Ave & Downey Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
Police reports: in 2 of 5, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 3 of 5 crashes a driver was turning left.
- Before you step out, look for drivers turning left from the far side of the junction. They are watching for a gap in oncoming traffic, not for you.
- 073 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Florence Ave & Lakewood Blvd
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 2 of 3, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Of 3 people hit here, 2 were in a crosswalk at the intersection.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 084 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Quill Dr & Old River School Rd
Drivers turning left into people crossing
Police reports: in 3 of 4, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 3 of 4 crashes a driver was turning left. 3 of 4 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them.
- Before you step out, look for drivers turning left from the far side of the junction. They are watching for a gap in oncoming traffic, not for you.
- 096 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Florence Ave & Old River School Rd
Drivers turning right into people crossing
Police reports: in 3 of 6, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 3 of 6 crashes a driver was turning right. 4 of 6 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 67% happened after dark.
- Watch for drivers turning right, including on a red light. They look left for traffic and often miss people on their right, so make eye contact before you step out.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 105 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Florence Ave & Paramount Blvd
Drivers turning right into people crossing
Police reports: in 4 of 5, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 4 of 5 crashes a driver was turning right. 4 of 5 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them.
- Watch for drivers turning right, including on a red light. They look left for traffic and often miss people on their right, so make eye contact before you step out.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in Downey
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Firestone Blvd | 21 | 5 |
| Florence Ave | 18 | 5 |
| Lakewood Blvd | 18 | 1 |
| Paramount Blvd | 16 | 1 |
| Downey Ave | 15 | 1 |
| Imperial Hwy | 14 | 3 |
| Old River School Rd | 7 | 0 |
| Stewart And Gray Rd | 6 | 0 |
| Brookshire Ave | 5 | 1 |
| Bellflower Blvd | 5 | 1 |
Reported pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026, counted by the street each police report names first, so a crash at a corner counts toward one of its two streets. Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
What the police reports say drivers did in Downey
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 60 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 10 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 10 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 6 | |
| ran a red light | 5 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 4 | |
| didn't yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk | 3 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 3 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 113 cars, 45 SUVs, 19 pickup trucks, 2 minivans, 1 truck or semi and 1 motorcycle. In 10 crashes the report says the other driver had been drinking or was on drugs.
Reported pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026. The officer names one party and one Vehicle Code section as the main cause of each crash; these are the crashes where that party was a driver. It is the officer's reading at the scene, not a court's finding, and many reports name the person on foot or on a bike instead, which we don't list.
When pedestrians are hit in Downey
The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 25% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Wednesday.
| Monday | 23 | |
| Tuesday | 34 | |
| Wednesday | 37 | |
| Thursday | 32 | |
| Friday | 36 | |
| Saturday | 31 | |
| Sunday | 8 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in Downey, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in Downey
| Where the person on foot was | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 48% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 2% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 24% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 27% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in Downey, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (195) or the road's posted speed (5). Freeway crashes are left out. These describe the crashes, not how dangerous each kind of street is: we have no count of how many people cross each one.
Pedestrian crashes in Downey by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 33 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 46 | 10 | |
| 2024 | 39 | 6 | |
| 2025 | 33 | 8 | |
| 2026 | 18 | 3 |
How people get to work in Downey
| Share of workers | Downey | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 73.6% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 11.2% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 2.6% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 1.7% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.1% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 17.2% |
5.3% of households in Downey have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 31 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 110,939 residents. These are trips to work only: walks to school, the shops or a bus stop aren't counted, so they can't say how much walking or riding happens on Downey's streets.
Common questions about Downey
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in Downey?
- The worst spot is Firestone Blvd & Newville Ave, with 3 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are Firestone Blvd & Lakewood Blvd (8) and Downey Ave & 2nd St (13).
- How many pedestrians were killed in Downey?
- 18 crashes killed someone in 201 reported pedestrian crashes in Downey from 2021–2026, and 33 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in Downey?
- 36% involved a driver turning, 20% turning left. 47% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 23% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 29% happened after dark. 13% were hit-and-run.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in Downey, compared with California?
- Of 201 reported pedestrian crashes in Downey from 2021–2026: 29% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 16% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 5% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in Downey have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Firestone Blvd (21), Florence Ave (18), Lakewood Blvd (18), Paramount Blvd (16), Downey Ave (15). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in Downey?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in Downey was 5 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Wednesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in Downey?
- 1.7% of workers in Downey walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 2.6% take public transit. 5.3% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in Downey each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 32, 2022: 33, 2023: 46, 2024: 39, 2025: 33, 2026: 18. The latest year can rise as late reports come in.
- Where does this data come from?
- Police crash reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published by the state on data.ca.gov. Only crashes reported with map coordinates are counted, so the real totals are higher.
Nearby cities
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A report with no coordinates is placed at the intersection its street names give; reports with neither are not counted, so these numbers are lower than the real total. Crashes on freeways are left out. Busy streets show more crashes partly because more people use them. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-22. How the data works.