ENCINITAS — A 12-year-old girl was struck and killed by a vehicle in a crosswalk in Encinitas on April 25, prompting an outpouring of grief across the community and an ongoing investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies responded to a report of a vehicle-pedestrian collision at 6:51 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Encinitas Boulevard and Village Square Drive, according to the sheriff’s North Coastal Station.
Preliminary findings show that a 44-year-old man driving a Nissan Xterra westbound on Encinitas Boulevard collided with a southbound Ford Fusion, also driven by a 44-year-old man.
The Xterra then struck the girl as she was walking in the crosswalk, law enforcement said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Both drivers remained at the scene and were not injured. Investigators do not believe alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.
The girl, identified only as “Emery,” was a sixth-grade student at Park Dale Lane Elementary School and a participant in the Performing Arts Workshop in Encinitas, according to CBS8.
Two memorials have been established — one at the crash site and another outside Park Dale Lane Elementary.
A sign at the school reads, “We love you Emery. Stay jolly,” surrounded by flowers, photos, stuffed animals and handwritten notes.
The Encinitas Union School District released a statement Monday expressing deep sorrow over the student’s death.
“The Park Dale Lane community is filled with deep sadness and devastation at the tragic passing of one of our beloved sixth-grade students,” the district said. “She was a vibrant 12-year-old who shined with creativity, kindness, and a bright spirit. She brought warmth and friendliness wherever she went, inspiring those around her and making her a true joy to know. Her loss will be profoundly felt at our school, and Park Dale Lane will not be the same without her.”
District officials said grief counselors and crisis support teams will be available on campus for students and staff in the coming days.
The Sheriff’s Traffic Accident Reconstruction Team is leading the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has video footage is asked to contact the department’s non-emergency line at 858-565-5200 or call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at www.sdcrimestoppers.org.
City News Service contributed to this report.
3 comments
I disagree regarding the “barricaded bike lane [sic].” These cycletracks (not proper painted bike lanes) provide a false sense of security for cyclists, while endangering them at every intersection. The barriers themselves cause cyclist crashes and injuries.
Concur. There is a lot of truth to “safe driving is no accident.” Speeding and general careless driving are pandemic.
She got killed because of speeding. Xterra in lane 1. Ford in lane 2. Ford tries to overtake the Xterra and clips itself—basically like a PIT maneuver—and swings onto the crosswalk. That explains the position of the debris. It explains why the front bumper ended up in the middle of the intersection and why the Ford has damage on the rear left quarter.
Most likely, the Ford was trying to avoid a slower car turning right into Trader Joe’s—not even trying to beat the light, just speeding. The Xterra might’ve sped up too—because of weak masculinity. Let’s be honest: both of them are 44-year-old men. One drives an Xterra, the other a Ford Fusion. It’s the exact kind of subtle ego standoff you see all the time—no words, no signals, just one guy refusing to let another guy pass because it bruises his pride. Not racing, just posturing. The real escalation probably didn’t even happen until the last 3 to 5 seconds.
That section of road is a high-speed zone. Cognitively, it needs to be lane-dieted. Narrow the lanes, slow the cars. That alone would prevent deaths like this. A barricaded bike lane would be the perfect way to tighten the corridor—and it would’ve also saved the Hispanic guy who got killed cycling there last December.
So yeah, this wasn’t “just an accident.” It was predictable. It was systemic. And it was preventable.