The Carlsbad Police Department is urging drivers and pedestrians to stay alert this September, less than two weeks after a fatal hit-and-run on Carlsbad Boulevard.

The department issued a Pedestrian Safety Month reminder on Monday, Sept. 28, citing California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) data showing 1,090 pedestrians were struck and killed statewide in 2024. That figure represented 28% of all California traffic fatalities.

Two deadly Carlsbad pedestrian crashes since September 2024 put the statewide numbers in sharp local focus.

On Sept. 15, a pedestrian was struck and killed in the 3800 block of Carlsbad Boulevard at about 7:46 p.m., according to North County Daily Star. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Officers used evidence at the scene, community tips and the city's automated license plate readers to locate the vehicle about a mile away.

Fernando Saldana, 26, of Escondido was arrested on charges of murder, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury or death, DUI causing injury or death and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to the Carlsbad Police Department. Saldana has a prior DUI conviction. Alcohol is suspected as a factor.

The investigation remains open.

That crash came nearly two years after another Carlsbad pedestrian fatality. On Sept. 10, 2024, 23-year-old Karla Guillen was struck and killed on Las Palmas Drive in a DUI hit-and-run. Jose Manuel Zambrano Cruz pleaded guilty on Sept. 24 to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury and hit-and-run causing death, NBC San Diego reported. He faces up to nine years in state prison. A sentencing date has not been announced.

Sgt. Conrad Page-DeMorst of the Carlsbad Police Department urged drivers to stay alert. "By staying focused and slowing down, especially in areas where there are more people walking, we can help prevent crashes and put safety first on every trip," he said in the department's statement.

The department's Pedestrian Safety Month program is funded by a grant from OTS through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

During National Bicycle Safety Month in May, the department ran a traffic safety operation targeting driver behaviors that endanger pedestrians and cyclists, including speeding, illegal turns and failure to yield.

The department's safety tips for drivers include slowing down at intersections, avoiding distractions and never driving impaired. For pedestrians, the department recommends using marked crosswalks, walking on sidewalks or facing traffic where none exist, and wearing bright or reflective clothing at night. Residents can report traffic safety concerns to the Carlsbad Police Department's non-emergency line at 760-931-2197.