Mai Nguyen, an 87-year-old resident of San Jose, was killed in a hit-and-run crash early Saturday morning, February 7, 2026. The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. near the intersection of North Capitol Avenue and Longford Drive, a residential and commuter-heavy corridor in East San Jose. According to the San Jose Police Department, Nguyen was struck by a vehicle traveling northbound on Capitol Avenue while she was walking in the area.
Emergency responders arrived quickly and transported Nguyen to a nearby hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene without stopping to render aid or contact authorities. As of now, no suspect or vehicle description has been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner’s Office formally identified the victim as Mai Nguyen later that day. Her death marks the third pedestrian fatality in San Jose in 2026, highlighting a troubling trend in pedestrian safety across the city. Authorities have not confirmed whether Nguyen was using a crosswalk or if visibility played a role in the crash.
The area surrounding Capitol Avenue and Longford Drive has seen increased traffic in recent years, and residents have voiced concerns about speeding and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. Following the incident, police closed off a section of North Capitol Avenue from Longford Drive to Camino Del Rey for several hours to conduct their investigation and gather evidence.
Nguyen was known in her community as a kind and active elder who often walked in the neighborhood during early morning hours. Her sudden death has left neighbors and family members devastated. Tributes have begun to appear near the crash site, with flowers and candles placed in her memory.
As the San Jose Police Department continues to investigate, they are urging anyone with information about the crash or the suspect vehicle to come forward. The city’s Vision Zero initiative, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities, is once again under scrutiny as advocates call for more aggressive measures to protect pedestrians, especially seniors and other vulnerable road users.
