Stockton, CA – On the evening of Thursday, January 22, 2026, a vehicle versus pedestrian collision involving Stockton City Manager Johnny Ford resulted in fatal injuries to a 68-year-old man and critical injuries to a 66-year-old man, according to FOX40.
The Stockton Police Department reports that the accident took place around 7:19 PM near North El Dorado Street and Popular Street.
Police said officers encountered the crash scene while traveling northbound in the area and observed two adult men injured in the roadway, with a vehicle stopped along the west curb line. Both pedestrians were transported to a local hospital for emergency medical care, where one later died from injuries sustained in the collision and the other remained in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit.
Authorities confirmed that Ford, a Stockton city employee, was the driver of the vehicle and remained at the scene, fully cooperating with investigators. As part of standard investigative procedure, officers conducted a scene analysis, reviewed physical evidence, and gathered witness statements.
Police said the driver was not impaired and passed a breathalyzer test administered at the scene. Investigators determined that the primary factor in the crash was related to a California Vehicle Code provision requiring pedestrians crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk to yield the right-of-way to vehicles when doing so creates an immediate hazard.
Officials stated that the incident was deemed a tragic and unforeseeable accident with no criminal liability. The investigation was completed in coordination with established departmental protocols, and authorities extended condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the collision.
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 if 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.
