Pedestrian crash statistics and hotspots in Uptown, San Diego
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- 113
- pedestrian crashes, 2021–2026
- serious or fatal
- 20
- serious or fatal
- fatal
- 4
- fatal
- street with the most
- University Ave
- street with the most
Is Uptown safe to walk?
This page covers traffic crashes, not crime. We don't rate neighborhoods 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: 113 pedestrian crashes were reported in Uptown from 2021–2026, 20 of them serious or fatal (4 fatal). The most were at University Ave & Vermont St (23). 38% involved a driver turning, 24% turning left. 55% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
Uptown here is the City of San Diego's Uptown community planning area; its edges may differ from where residents put the neighborhood.
Where to look next
How people on foot get hit in Uptown
- 38% involved a driver turning, 24% turning left.
- 55% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection.
- 15% were crossing away from a crosswalk.
- 44% happened after dark.
- 17% were hit-and-run.
What the reports show about pedestrian crashes in Uptown
- 44% (California: 42%) of crashes happened after dark.
- 18% (California: 27%) left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- The busiest hour was 6 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.
- 0123 crashes · 3 serious or fatal
University Ave & Vermont St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 7 of 23 crashes a driver was turning left. 15 of 23 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 43% 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.
- 0221 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
6th Ave & University Ave
People hit walking in the road
7 of 21 people were in the road or on the shoulder when they were hit, not crossing. 29% were hit-and-run.
- 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.
- 0311 crashes · 2 serious or fatal
3rd Ave & Robinson Ave
A mix of crash types
Of 11 people hit here, 5 were in a crosswalk at the intersection and 3 were in the road. 45% 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.
- 044 crashes · 3 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
6th Ave & Laurel St
A mix of crash types
Of 4 people hit here, 3 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 50% 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.
- 056 crashes · 1 serious or fatal · 1 fatal
5th Ave & Elm St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 2 of 6 crashes a driver was turning left. 3 of 6 people were in the crosswalk at the intersection: having the right of way didn't protect them. 67% 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.
- 064 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
West Washington St & Albatross St
A mix of crash types
Of 4 people hit here, 2 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 50% 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
Washington St & Eagle St
Drivers turning left into people crossing
In 3 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.
- 083 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
1st Ave & W Laurel
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.
- 093 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
6th Ave & Grape St
A mix of crash types
Of 3 people hit here, 2 were in a crosswalk at the intersection. 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.
- 103 crashes · 1 serious or fatal
Normal St & Lincoln Ave
A mix of crash types
100% 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.
Streets with the most pedestrian crashes in Uptown
| Street | Crashes | Serious/fatal |
|---|---|---|
| University Ave | 24 | 3 |
| 6th Ave | 11 | 6 |
| 5th Ave | 10 | 1 |
| Washington St | 8 | 0 |
| 4th Ave | 7 | 0 |
| Robinson Ave | 4 | 0 |
| 1st Ave | 4 | 0 |
| India St | 3 | 1 |
| 10th Ave | 3 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania 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 Uptown
The busiest hour was 6 p.m. (California: 6 p.m.). 27% of reported pedestrian crashes happened between 3 and 7 p.m. (California: 28%), and the busiest day was Tuesday.
| Monday | 17 | |
| Tuesday | 20 | |
| Wednesday | 15 | |
| Thursday | 19 | |
| Friday | 15 | |
| Saturday | 13 | |
| Sunday | 14 |
Reported pedestrian crashes in Uptown, 2021–2026, by the hour and day on the police report.
Where pedestrians are hit in Uptown
| Where the person on foot was | Uptown | California |
|---|---|---|
| In a crosswalk at an intersection | 57% | 42% |
| In a crosswalk away from an intersection | 0% | 3% |
| Crossing outside a crosswalk | 16% | 26% |
| In the road or on the shoulder, not crossing | 27% | 29% |
Shares of reported pedestrian crashes in Uptown, 2021–2026, that record where the person was (108) or the road's posted speed (1). 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 Uptown by year
| Year | Crashes | Serious/fatal | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 23 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 27 | 3 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2025 | 24 | 6 | |
| 2026 | 10 | 2 |
Common questions about Uptown
- Where do the most pedestrian crashes happen in Uptown?
- The worst spot is University Ave & Vermont St, with 23 reported pedestrian crashes from 2021–2026, 3 of them serious or fatal. Next are 6th Ave & University Ave (21) and 3rd Ave & Robinson Ave (11).
- How many pedestrians were killed in Uptown?
- 4 crashes killed someone in 113 reported pedestrian crashes in Uptown from 2021–2026, and 20 left someone seriously hurt or killed.
- How do pedestrians usually get hit in Uptown?
- 38% involved a driver turning, 24% turning left. 55% of the people hit were in a crosswalk at an intersection. 15% were crossing away from a crosswalk. 44% happened after dark. 17% were hit-and-run.
- How does Uptown compare with the rest of San Diego?
- Uptown had 113 of the 2,257 pedestrian crashes on the map in San Diego, 2021–2026 (5%). That is a count, not a rate: a neighborhood with more people walking, shops and through traffic has more crashes without being riskier for each person. Uptown here is the City of San Diego's Uptown community planning area; its edges may differ from where residents put the neighborhood.
- Which streets in Uptown have the most pedestrian crashes?
- University Ave (24), 6th Ave (11), 5th Ave (10), Washington St (8), 4th Ave (7), counted by the street each police report names first.
Nearby neighborhoods in San Diego
Source: California Crash Reporting System (CCRS), 2021–2026. A crash counts toward the neighborhood whose outline holds its point. 111 of the 113 crashes here had no coordinates on the report and were placed at the intersection its street names give. Reports with neither coordinates nor usable street names aren't on the map, 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. Outline: City of San Diego, Community Planning Districts. Data last rebuilt 2026-10-07. How the data works.