Pacific Beach pedestrian dies after late-night crash as police investigate possible hit-and-run on Garnet Avenue
What investigators say happened
A man died after being found in the roadway in San Diego’s Pacific Beach neighborhood in a case investigators are treating as a possible hit-and-run.
Police said officers were called just after 2 a.m. Saturday to Garnet Avenue near Gresham Street following reports of a man lying in the roadway. Responding personnel began life-saving efforts at the scene, including CPR, before the man was transported to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla with major injuries. He later died at the hospital.
Authorities said callers did not witness the collision itself but reported seeing a vehicle leave the area shortly before officers arrived. The incident remains under investigation by the San Diego Police Department’s Traffic Division.
Vehicle description and outstanding questions
Police have described the suspect vehicle as a white SUV that may have front-end damage near a headlight. As of the most recent update, the victim had not been publicly identified, and investigators had not announced whether impairment was suspected as a contributing factor.
Officials have not released additional details about the sequence of events leading up to the crash, including where the pedestrian was immediately before being struck, the direction of travel of the suspected vehicle, or whether any surveillance video has been recovered from nearby businesses or residences.
Location: Garnet Avenue near Gresham Street, Pacific Beach
Time reported: Just after 2 a.m. Saturday
Suspect vehicle: White SUV, possibly with headlight-area front-end damage
Case status: Under investigation by SDPD Traffic Division
How fatal hit-and-run investigations typically proceed
In cases where the collision is not directly witnessed, investigators generally rely on physical evidence at the scene, vehicle debris, the pattern of injuries, and any available video or digital evidence to reconstruct what occurred. Police also seek out additional witnesses who may have been in the area immediately before or after the crash.
Anyone who may have information about the vehicle, the driver, or what occurred near Garnet Avenue and Gresham Street around the time of the crash is being asked to contact police.
What the public can do
Police have requested that anyone with information call 619-531-2000. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers.
The investigation remained active as of Monday, and additional updates are expected as detectives work to identify the driver and determine the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.