San Jose, CA – Pedestrian Loses Life In Crash on Payne Ave

San Jose, CA (August 5, 2025) – A deadly crash involving a pedestrian occurred late Sunday night in San Jose, leading to a fatality and an ongoing police investigation.

The incident happened just before 11 p.m. on August 3 near the intersection of Payne Avenue and Winchester Boulevard. Officers with the San Jose Police Department were dispatched to the scene following reports of a person struck by a vehicle while crossing the street.

According to police, a black 2018 Chevy truck was traveling westbound on Payne Avenue when it struck an adult man who was in the roadway. The vehicle was driven by an adult male and had one adult male passenger, both of whom remained at the scene and cooperated fully with the investigation.

The pedestrian, described as an adult male, was rushed to a nearby hospital. Sadly, he later succumbed to his injuries. His name has not yet been released, pending identification and notification of his next of kin by the Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office.

No arrests have been announced, and police continue to review evidence to determine the full circumstances leading to the crash. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact authorities.

We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the man who lost his life in this heartbreaking incident.

Pedestrian Accidents in California

Pedestrian accidents remain a persistent issue throughout California. In 2023, the state reported over 1,100 pedestrian fatalities, with many more sustaining serious injuries. Urban areas, especially in high-traffic corridors, are often the most dangerous for pedestrians. San Jose and similar cities have experienced an increase in fatal pedestrian incidents over the past several years.

When it comes to pedestrian accidents, there are a few important realities every family should be aware of:

• Low Visibility at Night: Many pedestrian crashes happen after sunset, when visibility drops. Without adequate lighting or reflective clothing, pedestrians are much harder for drivers to see, especially in unmarked crosswalks.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers who fail to yield the right of way at intersections and marked crosswalks are a major factor in these collisions. Even slight misjudgments in speed or distance can lead to fatal outcomes.
• High-Speed Impact: When vehicles are moving quickly, the force of impact on a pedestrian can be deadly. Higher speeds dramatically reduce a driver’s reaction time and increase the severity of injuries sustained.
• Driver Distraction: Texting, phone use, or adjusting controls while driving can easily result in a missed pedestrian, particularly in dimly lit or congested areas.

If someone you love was harmed or killed while walking, contact a wrongful death attorney.

At Ziff & Cohn, we bring over 70 years of combined legal experience to families dealing with loss. Our firm is dedicated to supporting victims across the Bay Area, including San Jose, Santa Clara, and surrounding communities. We handle each case with the depth of care and thorough preparation it deserves. Founding attorney Harvey Ziff is a Stanford Law graduate and former Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, while Adrienne Cohn brings a litigation-focused approach and speaks fluent Spanish. We fight to hold negligent drivers accountable and seek full compensation for your loss. To begin your free consultation, call us today at (650) 329 – 0851.

Notes: Our writers created this accident news post based on information gathered from various external sources, including local and national news outlets, police reports, and occasionally eyewitness accounts of accidents. If you find any inaccuracies in this post, please contact Ziff & Cohn so we can correct the information as soon as possible. We will remove this post upon request.

Disclaimer: This post is not a solicitation for business and should not be considered legal advice. It does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Legal outcomes depend on the specific details of each case. For tailored legal advice, we encourage you to contact Ziff & Cohn directly. Please note that the featured image in this post is for illustrative purposes only and is not associated with the actual accident.