A 15-year-old boy was injured on the evening of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street near Aragon High School. Police say the driver is suspected of driving under the influence. Police say the DUI crash happened shortly after 7:00 PM, when darkness had already settled over the area, and many families were still out for evening school activities, practices, and events.
Suspected DUI crashes like this one are a painful reminder of how quickly an ordinary trip across a familiar crosswalk can change a young person’s life. A 15-year-old should be able to cross a marked crosswalk near his own school without fearing that a driver will fail to stop, and when alcohol or drugs are suspected, the questions about responsibility become even more significant.
While the criminal investigation continues, the teen and his family are likely facing medical appointments, time away from school and activities, and uncertainty about what recovery will look like. Families in this situation do not have to navigate those concerns alone, and learning about their legal options early can help ensure the injured teen’s needs are protected moving forward.
What Happened at Hobart Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas
According to the San Mateo Police Department, the collision occurred at approximately 7:19 PM at the intersection of Hobart Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas. Investigators reported that the teen was crossing at a crosswalk when he was hit by a vehicle. Emergency responders transported the boy to a nearby hospital for treatment. His injuries included multiple abrasions and an arm injury.
Hobart Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas sit just beside Aragon High School, an area that sees regular foot traffic from students, parents, and neighbors throughout the week. According to the San Mateo Police Department, officers were called to the intersection at approximately 7:19 PM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, after the teen was struck while using the crosswalk.
Responding officers and emergency personnel arrived to find the injured boy, who was transported to a nearby hospital and treated for multiple abrasions and an arm injury. Investigators determined that the driver involved showed signs of impairment, leading to his arrest on suspicion of DUI at the scene, and his vehicle was towed.
Police have not released further details about how the collision occurred, and the investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full sequence of events.
Driver Arrested on Suspicion of DUI
Officers arrested the driver at the scene on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and his vehicle was towed. The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office will review the case, and an additional charge of DUI causing injury may be filed against the suspect. An arrest does not mean the driver has been convicted, and any criminal charges will be decided through the court process.
After the collision, officers arrested the driver at the scene on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, and his vehicle was towed from the intersection. Because the teen was injured, prosecutors may consider an additional charge of DUI causing injury, which the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office will decide after reviewing the case.
California law treats impaired driving as a serious offense, particularly when it results in harm to another person, and a driver who is convicted of DUI causing injury can face significant penalties. It is important to remember that an arrest is not a conviction, and the driver is presumed innocent unless and until the court finds otherwise.
Even so, the circumstances of the arrest raise important questions about whether the driver could see the pedestrian, react in time, and operate his vehicle safely. Those questions matter not only in the criminal case but also in any civil claim the injured teen’s family may choose to pursue.
Pedestrian Safety Near Schools and Crosswalks
Crosswalks near schools see steady foot traffic from students, particularly in the evening when after-school activities, sports, and events keep young people out late. Under California law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and exercise extra caution when approaching school zones and areas where children are present.
Reduced visibility at night makes attentiveness even more important, and impaired driving significantly diminishes a driver’s ability to see, react, and stop in time. Pedestrian safety near schools depends on every driver staying alert, especially during the hours when students are still coming and going to and from classes, practices, rehearsals, and community events.
Marked crosswalks are designed to give pedestrians a protected place to cross, and California law requires drivers to yield the right of way to anyone using one. Near campuses, that responsibility carries even more weight, since young people may step into the roadway quickly and are often harder to see after dark.
Drivers should slow down, scan the intersection before entering it, and be prepared to stop well ahead of the crosswalk. Impaired driving undermines every one of those basic safeguards by slowing reaction time, narrowing focus, and weakening judgment. When a driver chooses to get behind the wheel after drinking or using drugs, the people who rely on crosswalks to get safely across the street are placed at serious risk.
How Negligence Per Se May Apply
If the driver is found to have been driving under the influence, he may be considered to have committed negligence per se. Under this legal doctrine, violating a traffic safety law, such as California’s DUI statutes, can satisfy the legal criteria for negligence. This means the driver may be found liable for the pedestrian’s injuries resulting from the collision.
Negligence per se is a legal doctrine that can make it easier for an injured person to establish that a defendant acted negligently. Ordinarily, a plaintiff must show that the driver failed to use reasonable care, but when a driver violates a safety law designed to protect the public, such as California’s DUI statutes, that violation may satisfy the negligence requirement on its own.
If the driver in this collision is found to have been driving under the influence, he may be considered to have committed negligence per se, which could shift the focus of a civil claim toward the extent of the teen’s injuries and the compensation he may be owed. The doctrine does not automatically resolve every issue in a case, since questions about causation and damages must still be addressed.
Even so, it can be a meaningful advantage for a pedestrian who was struck while crossing in a marked crosswalk, because it ties the driver’s alleged violation of the law directly to his legal responsibility for the harm that followed.
A Civil Claim Is Separate From the Criminal Case
The criminal case against the driver is brought by the state and focuses on punishment for the alleged offense. It does not compensate the injured teen for what he has been through. Independent of any criminal proceedings, the pedestrian may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim against the driver.
A personal injury claim can provide compensation for economic damages, including medical expenses and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Even injuries that initially appear minor, like abrasions and arm injuries, can lead to ongoing medical needs, missed school and activities, and emotional distress, so it is important to document the full extent of the harm.
A criminal case and a civil claim serve very different purposes, and one does not depend on the other. The criminal case is brought by the state, through the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, and its goal is to hold the driver accountable for the alleged offense through penalties such as fines, probation, or jail time.
It does not provide any money to the injured teen for his medical care, his recovery, or the disruption to his life. A civil claim, on the other hand, is brought by the injured person or, in this case, by a parent or guardian on his behalf, and it seeks compensation for the harm he suffered.
Because the two proceedings operate independently, a family can pursue a personal injury claim whether or not criminal charges are filed, and the outcome of the criminal case does not decide the result of the civil claim.
The standards of proof also differ: a criminal conviction requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas a civil claim requires only a preponderance of the evidence, meaning it is more likely than not that the driver was responsible. Families should also keep in mind that California sets deadlines for filing injury claims, which is one more reason to speak with an attorney sooner rather than later.
Claims on Behalf of a Minor
Because the pedestrian is a minor, a parent or guardian would be responsible for pursuing a claim on his behalf. Families in this situation should preserve medical records, bills, photographs of the injuries and the scene, and any communication with insurance companies. Speaking with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney early can help protect the child’s rights and ensure that the family understands the options available to them.
When a child is injured, the legal process differs from that for an adult, and families should understand how a claim on behalf of a minor is handled. A parent or guardian is responsible for pursuing the teen’s claim, which means they make decisions about hiring an attorney, communicating with insurance companies, and accepting a settlement offer.
In California, settlements for minors generally require court approval to ensure the agreement is fair and the child’s interests are protected, and the court may direct how the funds are held or distributed until the teen reaches adulthood. Parents can help preserve the strength of the claim by keeping medical records and bills, photographing the injuries and the scene, and saving any correspondence from insurers.
It is also wise to avoid providing recorded statements to the driver’s insurance company before fully understanding the extent of the injuries, since even seemingly minor injuries, such as abrasions and arm injuries, can lead to ongoing treatment or lingering effects.
California also allows additional time to file claims on behalf of minors in many situations, but the rules can be complex and depend on the circumstances, so speaking with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney early can help the family protect the teen’s rights and make informed decisions about the road ahead.
Personal Injury Settlement Calculators and Why They Matter
Personal injury settlement calculators are online tools that give injured people a rough estimate of what their claim may be worth. Most ask for details such as medical expenses, lost wages, the severity and expected duration of the injuries, and whether the person bears any share of fault. Many then apply a multiplier to the medical costs to account for pain and suffering, producing a general range rather than a precise figure.
Used properly, a calculator can help a family understand the main categories of compensation, including economic damages, such as treatment costs and lost income, and non-economic damages, such as emotional distress and reduced quality of life. It can also encourage people to gather bills, records, and payment documentation early, which strengthens a claim from the start.
However, these tools have real limits. They cannot evaluate the strength of the evidence, the available insurance policy limits, future medical needs, or how California’s comparative fault rules might reduce a recovery. Two cases with identical medical bills can have very different values depending on those factors.
For that reason, a settlement calculator is best treated as a starting point for informed conversations rather than a promise of what a claim will be worth. An experienced personal injury attorney can review the full circumstances of an accident and provide a far more reliable assessment of the compensation an injured person may be entitled to pursue. Call us now at 1-855-508-9565 to speak with the experts.
Injured in a Pedestrian Accident in San Mateo County?
“No family should have to face a night like this, especially when a young person was simply crossing the street near his own school. Whether or not criminal charges are filed, an injured pedestrian has the right to pursue compensation for medical bills, emotional distress, and the other ways this collision has disrupted his life, and a parent or guardian can take that step on his behalf. My advice is to document the injuries, keep every medical record, and speak with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney before speaking with an insurance company. If you or someone you love has been hurt by a suspected impaired driver, please reach out to us. We are here to listen, answer your questions, and fight for the recovery your family deserves.”— Andy Gillin, Managing Partner, GJEL Accident Attorneys
If you or your child has been injured by a suspected impaired driver, the legal team at GJEL Accident Attorneys is here to help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Our compassionate attorneys are available to answer your questions and guide your family through the process. Contact GJEL Accident Attorneys today for a free consultation.
Let our experienced legal team shoulder the legal burden while you focus on what matters most – your family’s healing and recovery. Contact us today at 1-855-508-9565 or visit our Sacramento office for free legal advice.
Resources and Official Contacts for Those Affected
Families affected by this collision may find the following agencies and organizations helpful. Each link goes to the agency’s main website, where the most current contact details and services are posted:
San Mateo Police Department
The San Mateo Police Department investigated this collision and is the primary source for questions about the incident. Its main page is https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/273/Police, and an overview of its patrol, investigation, and support units is at https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4022/Police-Services. The department is located at 200 Franklin Parkway, San Mateo, CA 94403. Its dispatch line is (650) 522-7700, and its general line is (650) 522-7710. Families can contact the department to ask how to request a copy of the collision report, which is often needed for insurance and legal purposes.
San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office and Victim Services
The District Attorney’s Office will decide whether additional charges, such as DUI causing injury, are filed. Its website is https://www.smcgov.org/da, and its main office can be reached at (650) 363-4636. The office’s Victim Services Division supports victims of crime and their families, and its resources are at https://www.smcgov.org/da/victim-rights. Victim advocates can explain how the criminal justice process works and help with applications to the California Victim Compensation Board, which can be found at https://victims.ca.gov.
Traffic and Transportation Agencies
The California Highway Patrol oversees traffic safety statewide and provides information on collision reporting and traffic safety programs at https://www.chp.ca.gov. The California Department of Motor Vehicles handles license and registration matters, including post-collision reporting requirements, at https://www.dmv.ca.gov.
The San Mateo County Transportation Authority (https://www.smcta.org) and the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (https://www.ccag.ca.gov) both work on regional transportation planning and roadway safety. Residents concerned about crosswalk safety near schools can contact these agencies to raise their concerns. The California Office of Traffic Safety (https://www.ots.ca.gov) offers pedestrian safety and impaired-driving prevention resources for families and schools.
Courts and Legal Information
The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, at https://www.sanmateo.courts.ca.gov, handles both criminal cases and civil injury claims filed in the county. The California Courts Self-Help Center at https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov offers general guidance on court procedures, including how minors’ claims and settlements are handled. Families seeking legal representation can verify that an attorney is in good standing through the State Bar of California at https://www.calbar.ca.gov.
Emergency and Support Services
In any emergency, call 911. For free confidential emotional support after a traumatic event, families can contact San Mateo County Health at https://www.smchealth.org. Students and parents may also reach out to the counseling staff at Aragon High School and the San Mateo Union High School District at https://www.smuhsd.org.
