Pedestrian struck in La Mesa last month dies from injuries, raising safety concerns

LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — A pedestrian struck by a motorcycle in La Mesa last month has died from his injuries, more than four weeks after the crash, authorities confirmed. Police say Tony Moore, 65, was hit around 12:45 p.m. on Feb. 22 while crossing El Cajon Boulevard near Jessie Avenue. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and died earlier this week, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office. The motorcyclist remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. It remains unclear whether speed, impairment, or other factors played a role in the crash. The crash, now fatal, is drawing renewed attention to safety concerns along this busy La Mesa corridor. Neighbors and employees at nearby businesses say the intersection can be difficult for pedestrians to navigate, pointing to fast-moving traffic and confusion over crossing signals. “I take this walk every day, and cars don’t stop. I’ve almost been hit twice,” Rose Allen, a pedestrian said. Workers at Norm's Cocktails say they’ve seen multiple close calls over the years. “That’s terrible, people don’t know how to stop,” said bartender Jennifer Polinsky. “It’s been a mess.” Others say flashing pedestrian signals at the intersection may be part of the problem. “I think people don’t really know what they mean,” one person said. “They just need a regular traffic light,” another added. The City of La Mesa says it has made improvements in recent years to enhance pedestrian safety along busy corridors like El Cajon Boulevard, including: Still, some residents and workers say more needs to be done to prevent future tragedies. FOX 5/KUSI has reached out to the City of La Mesa for further comment on this intersection and any planned safety improvements, but has not yet received a response.