A pedestrian died early June 20, 2026, on northbound U.S. 101 just south of the Whipple Avenue off-ramp near Redwood City. California Highway Patrol logs indicate the person was initially seen walking in the express and No. 1 lanes before later being found face down in the roadway. Several vehicles, including a gray sedan, a red sedan in the carpool lane, and a green Mazda CX-50 on the shoulder, were reported stopped near the scene. Officers conducted a traffic break and temporarily closed all lanes while emergency crews responded. By shortly after 5 a.m., some lanes were being reopened and the coroner was requested. Authorities have not yet confirmed exactly how the pedestrian was struck, and the incident remains under investigation.
Accident News Report
A pedestrian was killed early Saturday morning on northbound U.S. Highway 101 just south of the Whipple Avenue off-ramp in the Redwood City area, according to the California Highway Patrol log.
Dispatch records show that around 4:43 a.m. on June 20, 2026, callers reported a person walking in the express and No. 1 lanes of northbound 101. A short time later, the pedestrian was reported lying face down in the No. 1 lane.
An unknown gray sedan was described as blocking the No. 1 lane in front of the pedestrian, and a red four-door sedan was seen stopped in the carpool lane. Another vehicle, a green Mazda CX-50, was reported on the right-hand shoulder and identified as being associated with the original reporting party, according to the log.
Officers initiated a traffic break just south of Woodside Road and temporarily blocked all lanes while emergency responders worked at the scene. By about 5:04 a.m., officials reported plans to reopen lanes four and five and requested that the coroner be notified, indicating the pedestrian had died.
The exact sequence of events and whether a specific vehicle struck the pedestrian were not immediately confirmed. The incident remains under investigation by authorities.
Important Details
What California law says after a pedestrian accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Right of way rules for people walking and cycling
California drivers must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, and a crosswalk exists at most intersections whether or not it is painted. Drivers approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk must also slow down or take other care for that person’s safety. Pedestrians in turn must not leave a curb so suddenly that a driver cannot yield.
Since the 2023 change commonly called the Freedom to Walk Act, an officer generally may not stop a pedestrian for crossing outside a crosswalk unless there is an immediate danger of a collision. That change limits enforcement; it does not remove the pedestrian’s duty to use care, and in a civil case that duty still counts when fault is divided.
A related rule addresses visibility. Parking is prohibited within twenty feet of the approach side of any crosswalk, marked or unmarked, and within fifteen feet where a curb extension is present. A vehicle parked in that zone can hide a person stepping into the roadway from an approaching driver, and since January 2025 the restriction is enforceable whether or not the curb is painted.
For bicycles, the Three Feet for Safety Act requires a driver passing a cyclist travelling in the same direction to leave at least three feet of clearance, and where another lane in the same direction is available and it is practicable and lawful, to change lanes before passing. Where three feet is not possible, the driver must slow to a reasonable and prudent speed and pass only when it would not endanger the cyclist.
Being outside a crosswalk, or not wearing a helmet, does not by itself establish that a pedestrian or cyclist was legally at fault. Under California’s comparative fault rule, those facts are weighed alongside everything else that happened.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Pedestrian and vehicle accident claims: how fault is determined when a person on foot is struck
- All practice areas
Injured in This Accident? Get Trusted Legal Guidance
After an accident, the right information can make a meaningful difference. If you or a loved one was hurt, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and determine whether legal action may be available.
Speak with our legal team today and get clear guidance before making important decisions.