Police are looking for a suspect involved in a hit-and-run car accident in Old Town that left a man in critical condition after being hit by two cars in front of Perry’s Café in San Diego’s Old Town neighborhood Wednesday night.

The injured pedestrian crossed Pacific Highway headed west and waited in the center divider until he stepped in front of a fast-moving vehicle at about 10:20 p.m. The victim was instantaneous hit, according to San Diego Detective Dan Wall.

The vehicle, a Ford Focus, was headed south when it collided with the pedestrian.

“He walked right into the path of her car,” said Detective Wall.

Details of the San Diego pedestrian hit-and-run case

The driver of the vehicle, a 25 year-old from San Diego, stopped immediately and pulled over to help the man, said Wall. The pedestrian suffered head trauma—potentially a brain injury accident—and fractures to his ankle and foot.

Unfortunately, the hit-and-run car accident case got worse as a second vehicle approached.

As the injured pedestrian and driver of the Ford Focus scrambled at the scene of the accident, a second vehicle described as a black full-size van ran the man over as he lay on the asphalt. The driver, described as a Filipino man in his 40s, was said to have stopped momentarily, but he fled the scene shortly thereafter, said Wall.

The pedestrian victim suffered additional injuries and was immediately transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The victim was in grave condition, according to Wall.

Police are now searching for the described Filipino man, as he is said to be a local of the area. The driver of the Ford Focus was not cited, said Wall.

An epidemic? Hit-and-run accidents might be on the rise.

In recent news coverage, San Diego has seen a steady rise of pedestrian related hit-and-run accidents in the area. The statistics also suggest that a pedestrian have a slightly higher chance of being killed in a car crash than those in a vehicle according to The National Highway Transportation Safety Board.

Please consider these pedestrian tips to stay safe in San Diego. We don’t need another pedestrian death in our city! Share these tips with friends and family, especially those who live in the city limits where traffic and walking increases in tandem.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

• Always use a crosswalk as you’ll be better-protected from traffic accidents.
• Teach children to use a crosswalk as well, and avoid having them play in the street.
• Don’t linger near busy roadways, and walk on the interior of any sidewalk.
• For walking at dusk or night, wear a reflective piece of clothing or carry a flashlight.
• Make eye contact with the driver when attempting to cross a street, even if you use a crosswalk for pedestrian travel.

If you have been injured as a pedestrian in a car accident, San Diego attorneys at the Law Offices of Michael Pines can evaluate you legal rights free of charge. Call us today at 1-800-655-6585 or email us online by using our contact form.

About Michael Pines

Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who specializes in car accident injury. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes on how insurance companies work and how they decided to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael's inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents.