An male adult was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking in the area of 2100 E. 17th Street, according to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD).
On August 25, 2025, at approximately 7:34 p.m., the Santa Ana Police Department received multiple reports of a traffic collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian in the area of 17th Street and Tustin Avenue.
Police officers, along with Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), responded to the scene and rendered aid to the pedestrian, a male adult whose identity is being determined by the Orange County Coroner’s Office. OCFA transported him to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it is believed the male adult was crossing 17th St. from south to north in traffic lanes when a vehicle traveling eastbound struck him. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) is investigating this incident.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Detective K. Catlin at (714) 245-8224 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
Pedestrian deaths in California have remained high and may have increased slightly since the state decriminalized jaywalking in 2023 under the Freedom to Walk Act (AB 2147). Here’s a summary of the situation:
What Changed in the Law
- As of January 1, 2023, safe jaywalking is no longer a ticketable offense in California.
- Pedestrians can legally cross outside of crosswalks if it’s safe to do so.
- Police can only cite jaywalking if there’s an immediate danger of a collision.
Trends in Pedestrian Fatalities
- California continues to report over 1,100 pedestrian deaths annually, the highest of any U.S. state.
- Pedestrian fatalities have risen by more than 25% over the past decade.
- In the five years leading up to 2023, California had 942 fatal jaywalking-related accidents, more than any other state.
- Most of these deaths occurred on state highways and local streets, often in areas lacking pedestrian infrastructure.
Is the Law Linked to More Deaths?
- While some sources suggest pedestrian deaths have “skyrocketed” since the law change, the data is still inconclusive.
- Experts caution that road design, driver behavior, and lack of infrastructure play a larger role than jaywalking laws alone.
- Critics argue that decriminalizing jaywalking may increase risky crossings, while supporters say it reduces racially biased enforcement and encourages walking.
Bottom Line
The law change has not clearly caused a spike in pedestrian deaths, but California’s pedestrian fatality rate remains alarmingly high. The impact of legalizing jaywalking is still being studied, and other factors—like speeding, distracted driving, and poor road design—are major contributors.
Here’s a summary of how often pedestrian-vehicle collisions happen in California:
- In 2023, California recorded 1,106 pedestrian fatalities, down from 1,213 in 2022.
- On average, about 3 pedestrians die every day in traffic-related incidents across the state.
- Pedestrians make up 25% of all traffic deaths in California.
- Each year, around 15,000 pedestrians are injured in traffic collisions.
- Most fatal pedestrian incidents occur:
- At night (about 75%)
- Outside of intersections (about 80%)
- On high-speed roads or freeways (1 in 10 deaths)
- Speeding contributes to 35% of pedestrian fatalities.
- Alcohol impairment (by either the driver or pedestrian) is involved in about 30% of these deaths.
- Over the past decade, pedestrian fatalities have increased by more than 25% statewide.