San Francisco Records Third Pedestrian Fatality in 2025 at Dangerous Intersection
TL;DR
Law firms can leverage this tragedy to advocate for safer streets and hold cities accountable for negligence in wrongful death cases.
The intersection lacks traffic signals and stop signs, with four travel lanes and unmarked crosswalks increasing pedestrian collision risks.
Implementing proper traffic controls can prevent future tragedies and create safer communities for all pedestrians.
San Francisco's dangerous intersection has claimed multiple lives due to inadequate safety measures and speeding drivers.
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The death of a 77-year-old woman struck by a vehicle at the intersection of 39th Avenue and Geary Boulevard earlier this month marks San Francisco's third pedestrian fatality in 2025, continuing a pattern of dangerous conditions at this location where another pedestrian was killed in December 2020. The incident has prompted safety advocates to demand immediate action from city officials to address what they describe as negligent infrastructure failures.
Walk San Francisco executive director Jodie Medeiros expressed grief over the loss, stating, "We grieve the loss of life on our streets and are heartbroken for this woman's loved ones." The advocacy group emphasized that this intersection presents inherent dangers due to its design: both roads feature four travel lanes without traffic lights, stop signs, or adequate pedestrian safety measures despite the presence of crosswalks.
The organization's analysis reveals that the intersection's lack of traffic control devices significantly increases pedestrian risk, particularly given the long crossing distance and persistent speeding issues. "Pedestrians must cross a long distance, and drivers often speed in this quieter section of Geary Boulevard despite a new 25 MPH speed limit," according to Walk San Francisco's official release addressing the fatal accident.
This tragedy occurs within a broader context of pedestrian safety concerns in San Francisco, where 24 pedestrians were struck and killed by drivers last year alone. The pattern of fatalities at this specific intersection underscores systemic issues in urban planning and traffic management that affect vulnerable road users throughout the city.
Legal experts from Choulos & Tsoi Law Firm have characterized the city's failure to install basic traffic guidance systems as negligent, noting that municipalities have a duty to ensure safe crossings for pedestrians on busy, wide streets. The firm's perspective highlights potential liability issues that cities face when inadequate infrastructure contributes to preventable deaths.
The recurring nature of these incidents at the same intersection suggests that previous tragedies have not prompted sufficient safety improvements, raising questions about the effectiveness of current pedestrian protection policies and the urgency of implementing proven safety measures such as traffic signals, reduced speed limits, and enhanced crosswalk visibility.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
