On Monday, July 21, 2025, at approximately 9:15 PM, police officers were dispatched to the 400 block of W. Orangethorpe Avenue regarding a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, according to the Fullerton Police Department.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male pedestrian in the roadway suffering from traumatic injuries and a white Infiniti G35 in close proximity.
The Fullerton Fire Department responded and immediately began life-saving measures. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The driver of a white Infiniti involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
An initial investigation revealed that the white Infiniti was traveling westbound on W. Orangethorpe Avenue in the number one lane when it struck the pedestrian. The pedestrian was crossing W. Orangethorpe Avenue in a southbound direction, mid-block and outside of a marked crosswalk.
At this stage of the investigation, alcohol or drugs do not appear to be contributing factors related to the driver.
The deceased pedestrian’s identity will be released later by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.
Any witnesses with information about this fatal traffic collision are encouraged to contact
Fullerton Police Traffic Accident Investigator J. Munoz at (714) 738-6812 or via email at
jonathan.munoz@fullertonpd.org.
Those wishing to provide information anonymously can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1(855) TIP-OCCS or visit their website at occrimestoppers.org.
According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 73% of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S. in 2021 occurred at non-intersection locations, meaning the pedestrian was not in a crosswalk. This aligns with broader trends showing that most fatal pedestrian crashes happen:
- On the open road (76%) rather than at intersections (24%)
- At night (76%), when visibility is lower
These statistics highlight the elevated risk pedestrians face when crossing outside of designated crosswalks, especially in poorly lit or high-speed areas.
In California, a significant portion of fatal pedestrian crashes occur outside of crosswalks. According to the SafeTREC 2023 Traffic Safety Facts, 51.2% of fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes in 2021 were attributed to pedestrian violations, which typically include behaviors like crossing outside of marked crosswalks or against signals .
This aligns with broader national trends, where most fatal pedestrian incidents happen at non-intersection locations, often due to jaywalking or crossing mid-block. Additionally, the data shows:
- Urban areas accounted for 91% of fatal pedestrian crashes in California.
- Principal arterials (major roads) were the most common crash sites, making up 37% of fatal pedestrian incidents.
As of now, there is no conclusive public data showing a direct increase in pedestrian fatalities in California specifically due to the legalization of safe jaywalking under the Freedom to Walk Act (AB 2147), which took effect on January 1, 2023.
Here’s what we do know:
- The law decriminalized safe jaywalking, meaning pedestrians can legally cross outside of crosswalks if there is no immediate danger of a collision.
- Dangerous jaywalking remains illegal, and pedestrians can still be cited if they cross unsafely or block traffic 2.
- Comparative fault rules still apply in pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Even if a pedestrian is jaywalking, they may still recover damages if the driver was also at fault.
However, none of the sources reviewed provide updated statistics comparing pedestrian fatalities before and after the law change. This kind of analysis would likely come from the California Office of Traffic Safety or NHTSA once more post-2023 data is compiled and released.