Man Killed in Pedestrian-Involved Chain-Reaction Crash on I-280 in Daly City – July 23, 2025
Accident Overview: A tragic and complex chain-reaction crash on northbound Interstate 280 in Daly City claimed the life of a 50-year-old man during the morning commute on Wednesday, July 23, 2025. The incident began around 6:23 a.m. when a Toyota Camry spun out and struck the center median south of the Geneva Avenue exit. A Ford F-150 stopped behind the disabled Toyota to offer assistance. The driver of the Toyota then got out of his vehicle. Shortly after, a Ford Transit van, unable to stop in time, rear-ended the F-150. The force of this secondary collision propelled the F-150 forward, causing it to strike the Toyota driver, who was now a pedestrian on the freeway. The man sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Accident Type | Multi-Vehicle, Chain-Reaction involving a Pedestrian |
| Location | Northbound I-280, S of San Jose/Geneva Ave, Daly City |
| Date | July 23, 2025 ~6:23 AM |
| Parties Involved | Toyota Camry, Ford F-150, Ford Transit Van |
| Injuries | Not specified for other drivers. |
| Fatalities | 1 pedestrian (50-year-old male driver of Toyota) |
| Law Enforcement | California Highway Patrol (CHP), San Mateo |
| Legal Note | A complex liability case for the victim’s family to pursue. |
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🚨 What Happened
The incident unfolded in three stages: (1) A Toyota Camry spun out and became disabled against the center median. (2) A Ford F-150 stopped to help, and the Toyota driver exited his vehicle. (3) A Ford Transit van failed to stop, triggering a secondary crash that pushed the F-150 into the Toyota driver.
🧑⚕️ Medical Response
- Upon impact from the F-150, the 50-year-old man suffered catastrophic injuries. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel.
🚔 Investigation Underway
The California Highway Patrol has taken lead on this complex investigation. They are working to determine why the Toyota initially lost control and why the Ford Transit was unable to avoid the stopped vehicles. A Sig-alert was in effect for several hours, closing multiple lanes of I-280.
📊 Freeway & Secondary Crash Statistics
🚶♂️ Freeway Pedestrians Are at Extreme Risk: Exiting a vehicle on a live freeway is one of the most dangerous things a person can do. National data shows that hundreds of pedestrians are killed on interstates annually, many of whom were drivers or passengers of a disabled vehicle.
💥 Secondary Crashes Are Common and Deadly: A “secondary crash” is a collision that occurs as a result of a prior incident. They are a major concern for traffic safety officials, as they often happen at high speeds when approaching drivers are surprised by stopped traffic, as seen in this I-280 incident.
📍The county where this occurred, saw 42 traffic fatalities in a recent year. This tragic incident adds to the ongoing toll on major commuter routes in the Bay Area.
(Sources: California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), National Safety Council, CHP)
⚖️ Unraveling Liability in a Complex Chain-Reaction Crash
For the family of the man killed, determining legal fault is a complex but critical task. A wrongful death claim would require a meticulous investigation into the actions of every driver involved.
🚚 Liability of the Ford Transit Driver
The most direct cause of the death appears to be the Ford Transit rear-ending the stopped F-150. A driver has a duty to maintain a safe speed and following distance to avoid colliding with stopped vehicles. The family’s claim would likely focus on the Transit driver’s negligence in failing to do so.
❓ Investigating the Initial Crash
A crucial question is why the victim’s Toyota spun out initially. While it doesn’t excuse the secondary crash, if the spin-out was caused by another party (e.g., being cut off by an unidentified vehicle) or a vehicle defect (e.g., tire blowout), there could be additional avenues for a claim.
🙏 The Good Samaritan’s Role
The driver of the F-150 who stopped to help is generally protected by “Good Samaritan” laws from liability. Their actions were intended to render aid, and the subsequent crash was caused by the third vehicle. An experienced attorney would navigate these complexities to focus the claim on the party or parties whose negligence ultimately caused the fatal injury.
💼 Past Case Results
⚖️ $10.5 Million Verdict – Pedestrian Struck on Freeway Shoulder A jury awarded a landmark $10.5 million verdict to the family of a man who was struck and killed by a commercial truck while he was standing on the shoulder of a freeway next to his disabled vehicle.
⚖️ $3 Million Settlement – Chain-Reaction Rear-End Crash A settlement was reached for a victim who suffered major injuries in a multi-vehicle pile-up on a Southern California freeway. The case involved untangling the actions of several drivers to prove who initiated the chain reaction.
⚖️ $2.5 Million Settlement – Freeway Worker Killed The family of a Caltrans worker who was struck and killed in a freeway construction zone received a $2.5 million settlement. The claim held the at-fault driver accountable for ignoring warnings and driving unsafely in a congested area.
👨⚖️ Fighting for Families After a Devastating Freeway Accident
The sudden, violent nature of a freeway chain-reaction crash leaves families with immense trauma and unanswered questions. When a life is lost under such confusing circumstances, you need a legal team that can meticulously reconstruct the events and identify every party responsible for your loss.
Our mission is to provide clarity and strength in the midst of chaos. We hire the best investigators and accident reconstruction experts to unravel complex cases like this one. While you focus on grieving, we focus on fighting for the justice and financial security your family deserves.
✔️ Decades of experience handling complex, multi-vehicle, and fatal freeway claims.
✔️ Over $1 billion recovered for injury victims and grieving families across California.
✔️ We have the resources to take on any insurance company or corporation.
✔️ You will pay no out-of-pocket fees unless and until we win your case.
💡 Want answers fast? Our team will review your case for free—no pressure, no commitment.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
In a multi-car pile-up, how is legal fault determined?
Fault is determined by investigating the actions of each driver. In a chain-reaction, liability often falls on the driver who caused the first impact (the Toyota driver, in this case, for the initial spin-out) and/or the driver who caused the subsequent impact that led to the injury (the Ford Transit driver). An attorney would hire experts to analyze the sequence and each driver’s duty of care.
Is it ever a good idea to get out of your car after a crash on the freeway?
Safety experts and the CHP strongly advise against it. The safest place is almost always in your car with your seatbelt on and hazard lights flashing. Standing on a live freeway, even on the shoulder, exposes you to immense danger from other traffic, as this tragic case demonstrates.
What if the driver who hit my loved one claims they couldn’t stop in time?
This is a common defense, but drivers are required to maintain a speed that is safe for conditions and to keep a proper lookout. An investigation will analyze whether the Ford Transit driver was distracted, speeding, or following too closely to react to the already-stopped vehicles ahead, which would still constitute negligence.
What is a “secondary collision” and how does it affect the case?
A secondary collision is a crash that occurs as a result of an earlier incident. Legally, it’s a critical part of the case. While the first crash created the hazard, the driver who caused the secondary collision (which led to the death) can be held primarily responsible for the fatal outcome because they failed to navigate the existing hazard safely.
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