Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in La Mesa, CA
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 86
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 22
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 6
- fatal
- street with the most
- Fletcher Pkwy
- street with the most
Is La Mesa 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: 86 pedestrian crashes were reported in La Mesa from 2021–2026, 22 of them serious or fatal (6 fatal). The most were at Baltimore Dr & Fletcher Pkwy (8). 41% involved a driver turning, 26% turning left. 50% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in La Mesa
- 41% involved a driver turning, 26% turning left.
- 50% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 24% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 40% happened after dark.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in La Mesa
- 40% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 26% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
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.
- 018 crashes · 4 serious or fatal · 2 fatal
Baltimore Dr & Fletcher Pkwy
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 3 of 8 crashes a driver was turning right. 50% 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.
- 027 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
Jackson Dr & Parkway Dr
A mix of crash types
Of 7 people hit here, 5 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 43% 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.
- 034 crashes · 2 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
Spring St & Gateside Rd
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 4 crashes a driver was turning left. 2 of 4 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 50% happened after dark.
- 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.
- Wear something light or reflective, and cross where the street is lit.
- 044 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
University Ave & Harbinson Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 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.
- 057 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Spring St & La Mesa Blvd
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 of 7 crashes a driver was turning left. 6 of 7 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.
- 063 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
University Ave & Massachusetts Ave
A mix of crash types
67% 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.
- 073 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Parkway Dr & Marengo Ave
People hit crossing mid-block
2 of 3 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.
- 083 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Lake Murray Blvd & Cowles Mountain Blvd
A mix of crash types
- No single crash pattern stands out here. Cross with the signal, and check for turning drivers before you step out.
- 093 crashes
University Ave & Lee Ave
Drivers turning right into people crossing
In 2 of 3 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.
- 103 crashes
Dale Ave & University Ave
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 3 crashes a driver was turning left. 2 of 3 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.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in La Mesa
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| Fletcher Pkwy | 8 | 4 |
| University Ave | 8 | 3 |
| Spring St | 7 | 3 |
| Jackson Dr | 7 | 1 |
| Baltimore Dr | 6 | 2 |
| Lake Murray Blvd | 5 | 2 |
| Parkway Dr | 4 | 3 |
| 70th St | 4 | 0 |
| Allison Ave | 3 | 2 |
| Normal Ave | 3 | 0 |
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.
When pedestrians are hit in La Mesa
The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 33% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Thursday.
| Monday | 11 | |
| Tuesday | 11 | |
| Wednesday | 15 | |
| Thursday | 16 | |
| Friday | 14 | |
| Saturday | 11 | |
| Sunday | 8 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in La Mesa, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in La Mesa
| Where the person on foot was | La Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 51% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 1% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 25% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 23% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in La Mesa, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (84) or the road's posted speed (0). 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 La Mesa by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 17 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 20 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 14 | 6 | |
| 2026 | 7 | 2 |
How people get to work in La Mesa
| Share of workers | La Mesa | California |
|---|---|---|
| Drive alone | 69.9% | 65.7% |
| Carpool | 6.8% | 9.5% |
| Public transit | 1.3% | 2.9% |
| Walk | 2.6% | 2.4% |
| Bicycle | 0% | 0.7% |
| Work from home | 17.8% | 17.2% |
6.1% of households in La Mesa have no car (California: 7.1%). The average trip to work takes 23.8 minutes one way (California: 28.7).
US Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024 five-year estimates, 60,797 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 La Mesa's streets.
Common questions about La Mesa
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in La Mesa?
- The worst spot is Baltimore Dr & Fletcher Pkwy, with 8 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 4 of them serious or fatal. Next are Jackson Dr & Parkway Dr (7) and Spring St & Gateside Rd (4).
- How many pedestrians were killed in La Mesa?
- 6 crashes killed someone in 86 reported pedestrian crashes in La Mesa from 2021–2026, and 22 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in La Mesa?
- 41% involved a driver turning, 26% turning left. 50% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 24% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 40% happened after dark.
- When and where do pedestrian crashes happen in La Mesa, compared with California?
- Of 86 reported pedestrian crashes in La Mesa from 2021–2026: 40% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark. 26% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed. The busiest hour was 3 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.).
- Which streets in La Mesa have the most pedestrian crashes?
- By the street each police report names first, 2021–2026: Fletcher Pkwy (8), University Ave (8), Spring St (7), Jackson Dr (7), Baltimore Dr (6). Long, busy streets collect more crashes partly because more people use them.
- What time of day are pedestrians hit in La Mesa?
- The busiest hour for reported pedestrian crashes in La Mesa was 3 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.), and the busiest day was Thursday, 2021–2026.
- How many people walk to work in La Mesa?
- 2.6% of workers in La Mesa walk to work (California: 2.4%), and 1.3% take public transit. 6.1% of households have no car (California: 7.1%). From the Census American Community Survey, 2020–2024.
- How many pedestrian crashes happen in La Mesa each year?
- Reported pedestrian crashes with map locations: 2021: 18, 2022: 10, 2023: 17, 2024: 20, 2025: 14, 2026: 7. 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 2026-10-07. How the data works.