Fatal Traffic Crashes Spike in San Bernardino

Three dozen people have died in car crashes in San Bernardino this year -- nine just this month.

The numbers are higher than the city's homicide rate, which is 21 this year compared to 56 last year. 

Police have mixed emotions. On one hand, they're happy to see an unusually low number of homicides this year. But on the other hand, they're not happy about a big jump in the number of people killed in car crashes, with this last weekend being especially tragic.

Maria Gutierrez, 86, was hit and killed as she crossed the middle of busy Mount Vernon Avenue on Saturday. Angel Leon saw it happen from his front yard.

"I heard some skidding and I heard a bang," he said. "I thought two cars got into a wreck, but then a lot of people started pulling over and there was a lady laying in the street."

Guiterrez was one of four people who died over the weekend because of car crashes. Two people died in crashes that happened Saturday. Two died from earlier crashes, including a 9-year-old girl.

"It's remarkable for this city," said Lt. Rich Lawhead, a San Bernardino Police Department spokesman. "It's a higher number than we've ever had."

Traffic deaths have jumped alarmingly this year. Police have recorded 36 so far in 2015, including nine in October. Last year, police recorded 33, compared to 12, 11, and 15 in the previous three years.

Both drivers and pedestrians are becoming more careless, police said. Drivers are talking and texting behind the wheel and pedestrians are jaywalking more often.

"We have a number of pedestrians that nowadays that seem to just walk out into traffic," Lawhead said. "They don't go to the crosswalk. They're not wearing the clothing they should be wearing when they're out after dark. They're wearing very dark clothing. It makes it very hard for motorists to see them."

Police urge people to cross at crosswalks. If they can't find one, find an intersection and don't cross in the middle of the street.