A fatal crash involving two pedestrians, one of whom has died, prompted officials to shut down traffic near Sharp Mary Birch Hospital late Friday night.
The incident happened at 8:20 p.m. on the 3000 block of Health Center Drive. The SigAlert was put in place at 9 p.m. for the busy street between Frost and Vista Hill.
According to police, a 60-year-old man and 29-year-old man had parked their car on the 3000 block of Health Center Drive and were walking east across the street.
Just then, a 46-year-old man was driving a Toyota Corolla north when he saw the men. He tried to avoid them but couldn't, and wound up hitting them. The driver got out of the car and began CPR on the youngest victim, police said.
The 29-year-old was taken to the hospital, where he died. He was identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner's office as Jaime Leonen, of San Diego.
The 60-year-old was taken to the hospital, though it is unclear if his injuries are life-threatening.
Police said this incident is not a hit-and-run and said alcohol was not a factor. The driver works in the medical profession, police said, but not at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital. He was not charged in the accident.
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Due to the collision and street closures, Sharp Mary Birch restricted access to the hospital Friday night. Patients and guests trying to access the facility were asked to park in the structure on Frost Street and walk in at Sharp Memorial. Staffers were on hand to help direct visitors.
The street where this crash happened is not exactly well-lit. The is no crosswalk, but SDPD Sgt. Ron Glass said it is legal for pedestrians to cross that area.
He said traffic engineers may need to look at the lack of a crosswalk there in order to determine if and how to move forward with safety improvements to the area.
"At this point, I think a lot more has to do with pedestrians being aware of their surroundings," Sgt. Glass told NBC 7 at the scene Friday night.
Investigators determined alcohol or drugs did not play a factor in this deadly accident.
Meanwhile, it was a different case over in Lakeside Friday night after a suspected DUI driver plowed into a family that had just finished having dinner together at nearby restaurant.
An older couple from Texas was in town visiting their sons and was badly injured in that collision. Officials later confirmed one of the parents -- the mother -- died from injuries suffered in that crash.
