EspañolSan Diego Police Officer Admitted to Traveling Above Speed Limit Before Fatal Crash That Killed University of San Diego Student Justin Cann
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (October 5, 2026) – A University of San Diego student identified as Justin Cann has tragically died in a car accident involving a San Diego police officer near Linda Vista Road and Goshen Street.
San Diego County officials are saying that the accident occurred around 1:30 AM on Wednesday morning. Justin Cann was reportedly walking near the campus when he was hit by a San Diego police officer.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. He was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition to receive treatment.
Unfortunately, Justin Cann was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The police officer involved in the collision admitted to traveling above the speed limit prior to the deadly crash.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for San Diego Police Department Accidents
Police officers have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway. California law allows police departments to be liable for injuries caused by their employees under California Vehicle Code section 1700. This is particularly true if any officer was speeding. According to California Vehicle Code 22350, no person shall operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than would be reasonable or prudent given the prevailing road conditions. Courts will examine several factors when evaluating liability for any accident involving a police officer.
- Emergency: It matters whether or not the officer involved in the collision was in the midst of an emergency response with their lights and sirens.
- Visibility: The visibility conditions at the time of the crash should also be taken into consideration.
- Distractions: It is also important to consider whether or not the officer involved may have been distracted by their phone or computer.
- Dash Cam: Police vehicles will nearly always come equipped with dash cameras that capture everything an officer sees while driving. This footage can reveal a great deal in terms of what happened.
If a police officer fails to slow down to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider, for example, Brummett v. County of Sacramento. That case involved two police officers that were pursuing the suspect of a bank robbery. During the pursuit, the suspect crashed his vehicle at an intersection and hit a pickup truck, thereby causing the driver to be injured. The California Supreme Court held that the county could be legally responsible for car accidents if they were the result of negligent driving.
What To Do After a San Diego Police Department Accident
Many people are seriously injured or killed every year in accidents involving police officers. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2024, 225 people died in crashes involving emergency vehicles. More than half of these deaths were occupants of non-emergency vehicles (56%).” The NHTSA has estimated that roughly 77% of all pedestrian fatalities occurred in darkness. It is important that several actions are taken after any San Diego pedestrian accident.
- All of the medical records related to the incident should be collected and preserved.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed as early as possible, while their memories are still fresh.
- Surveillance footage from any police vehicle involved in the crash should be collected before it is lost.
- The family of any person who died should carefully consider their legal options with a team experienced in accident claims.
The vast majority of accidents involving police vehicles are totally preventable. They tend to involve officers that are not traveling within speed limits or failing to properly scan the road ahead of them. Unfortunately, many police officers drive under the assumption that they are above the law. But this is not the case. The family of any person who died due to the negligent actions of a police officer is able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating San Diego Police Department Accidents
We at the Carrillo Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Justin Cann. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. Had the officer involved in this incident been traveling within the speed limit, this tragedy might have been entirely avoided.
Do you need more information about a San Diego Police Department accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and holding law enforcement accountable for their negligent conduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts of any case, we are here to serve your needs. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
