Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in El Cajon, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 241
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 74
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 19
- fatal
- street with the most
- Main St
- street with the most
Where they cluster
All 10 spots, explainedIs El Cajon 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: 241 pedestrian crashes were reported in El Cajon from 2021–2026, 74 of them serious or fatal (19 fatal). The most were at 2nd St & Madison Ave (11). 39% involved a driver turning, 23% turning left. 35% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in El Cajon
- 39% involved a driver turning, 23% turning left.
- 35% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 43% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 42% happened after dark.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in El Cajon
- 42% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 31% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 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.
- 0111 crashes · 6 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
2nd St & Madison Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
6 of 11 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 55% 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.
- 027 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Washington Ave & Mollison Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
3 of 7 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 43% 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.
- 035 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
2nd St & Madison Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
4 of 5 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 80% 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.
- 044 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
Johnson Ave & Arnele Ave
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 2 of 4 crashes a driver was turning right. 75% 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.
- 057 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Main St & Sulzfeld Way
A mix of crash types
Police reports: in 3 of 7, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Of 7 people hit here, 5 were in a crosswalk at the intersection and 2 were crossing away from a crosswalk. 57% happened after dark.
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 064 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Magnolia Ave & Renette Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 4 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 75% 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.
- 074 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Main St & Taft Ave
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 2 of 4 crashes a driver was turning right.
- 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.
- 088 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Mollison Ave & Lexington Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
Police reports: in 5 of 8, a driver didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. In 5 of 8 crashes a driver was turning left. 8 of 8 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 · 2 serious or fatal
Ballantyne St & Broadway
People hit crossing mid-block
3 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.
- 106 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
2nd St & Main St
People hit crossing mid-block
3 of 6 people were crossing away from a crosswalk. 50% 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.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in El Cajon
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Main St | 25 | 13 |
| Mollison Ave | 19 | 4 |
| 2nd St | 17 | 7 |
| Madison Ave | 16 | 5 |
| Washington Ave | 14 | 6 |
| Magnolia Ave | 10 | 4 |
| Fletcher Pkwy | 9 | 3 |
| Broadway | 8 | 3 |
| Ballantyne St | 6 | 2 |
| 1st St | 6 | 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 El Cajon
| A driver… | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|
| didn't yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 61 | |
| drove too fast for conditions | 11 | |
| turned or changed lanes when it wasn't clear | 7 | |
| started or backed up when it wasn't clear | 5 | |
| drove under the influence | 5 | |
| didn't yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk | 5 | |
| didn't yield pulling out of a driveway or alley | 4 | |
| ran a stop sign or didn't yield after stopping | 3 |
The other vehicle, where the report names one: 129 cars, 45 SUVs, 31 pickup trucks, 7 minivans, 3 truck or semis and 1 bus. 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 El Cajon
The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 30% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Wednesday.
| Monday | 30 | |
| Tuesday | 39 | |
| Wednesday | 48 | |
| Thursday | 32 | |
| Friday | 37 | |
| Saturday | 31 | |
| Sunday | 24 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in El Cajon, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in El Cajon
| Where the person on foot was | El Cajon | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 36% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 3% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 43% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 17% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in El Cajon, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (237) 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 El Cajon by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 41 | 7 | |
| 2022 | 46 | 12 | |
| 2023 | 45 | 18 | |
| 2024 | 49 | 17 | |
| 2025 | 37 | 13 | |
| 2026 | 23 | 7 |
How people get to work in El Cajon
| Share of workers | El Cajon | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 72.6% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 9.4% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 2.3% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 2.3% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 11.4% | 17.2% |
8.1% of households in El Cajon have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 104,449 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 El Cajon's streets.
Common questions about El Cajon
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in El Cajon?
- The worst spot is 2nd St & Madison Ave, with 11 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 6 of them serious or fatal. Next are Washington Ave & Mollison Ave (7) and 2nd St & Madison Ave (5).
- How many pedestrians were killed in El Cajon?
- 19 crashes killed someone in 241 reported pedestrian crashes in El Cajon from 2021–2026, and 74 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in El Cajon?
- 39% involved a driver turning, 23% turning left. 35% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 43% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 42% happened after dark.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in El Cajon, compared with California?
- Of 241 reported pedestrian crashes in El Cajon from 2021–2026: 42% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 31% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 5% (California: 6%) were on a wet road, as the report records it.
- Which streets in El Cajon have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Main St (25), Mollison Ave (19), 2nd St (17), Madison Ave (16), Washington Ave (14). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in El Cajon?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in El Cajon was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Wednesday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in El Cajon?
- 2.3% of workers in El Cajon walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 2.3% take public transit. 8.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in El Cajon each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 41, 2022: 46, 2023: 45, 2024: 49, 2025: 37, 2026: 23. 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.