Stockton, CA – On the evening of Thursday, January 22, 2026, 68-year-old Joe Serna lost his life in a pedestrian collision involving the Stockton City Manager, according to FOX40.
The Stockton Police Department reported that the accident occurred around 7:19 PM near the intersection of North El Dorado Street and Popular Street.
Officers encountered the crash scene while traveling northbound and observed two adult pedestrians injured in the roadway, with a vehicle stopped along the west curb line.
Serna was transported to a local hospital for emergency medical treatment, where he later died due to the severity of his injuries. A second pedestrian, a 66-year-old man, was also taken to the hospital and remains in the intensive care unit with critical injuries.
Stockton police confirmed that the driver of the vehicle was Stockton City Manager Johnny Ford. Authorities stated that Ford remained at the scene and cooperated fully with investigators.
As part of standard procedure, officers conducted a scene investigation, reviewed physical evidence, and collected witness statements. Police also administered a breathalyzer test to the driver, which showed no signs of impairment.
Investigators determined that the primary factor in the crash was related to a California Vehicle Code provision requiring pedestrians crossing outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk to yield the right-of-way to vehicles when their presence creates an immediate hazard. Police stated that the driver was not at fault, and no arrests were made.
Ongoing Investigations
Victims of traffic accidents and their families should be aware that authorities may fail to note or even misinterpret critical evidence at a crash site. One of the services that a Personal Injury Attorney can provide is to pursue follow-up investigations, which can reveal additional evidence to correct any errors made by previous investigators.
Partial Liability in Pedestrian Accidents
California Law does not consider pedestrians to have the right-of-way under all circumstances, such as when they attempt to cross outside of a crosswalk. However, motorists are never relieved of the expectation to provide pedestrians with a Duty of Care toward their safety.
It may therefore be determined that a motorist is subject to partial liability in a pedestrian accident. Should that be the case, they would be financially responsible for the victim’s recovery costs in proportion to their degree of liability.
Stockton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, contact a Stockton Pedestrian Accident Lawyer for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
