Pedestrian killed in early Central Avenue crash, APD investigates
A pedestrian died after a pickup hit them near Central and Madeira around 1 a.m., deepening scrutiny of a corridor city leaders have flagged for safety fixes.
A pickup truck struck and killed a pedestrian crossing Central Avenue near Madeira Drive in Albuquerque’s International District early Friday, and police said the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with detectives. The pedestrian later died at a local hospital after suffering severe injuries on scene. Investigators do not currently suspect impairment or speed as factors.
The crash happened around 1 a.m. just east of San Mateo Boulevard, a stretch of Central that carries steady overnight traffic through one of Albuquerque’s most heavily traveled corridors. Police said the pedestrian crossed from the north sidewalk into westbound Central while the pickup was already traveling in the far right lane. That detail underscores how little margin exists for people on foot along a major arterial road built to move cars quickly through the city.
Central Avenue has been a repeated focus of the City of Albuquerque’s Vision Zero program, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious injuries through a data-driven safety approach. In February 2024, city officials said APD investigated 57 pedestrian crashes in 2023 that ended in either a fatality or great bodily injury. City materials have also pointed to Central, especially East Central, as a priority corridor for added protections, including planned HAWK pedestrian signals.
The new death adds to a grim run of fatal pedestrian crashes along Central in 2026. Local reporting has documented deadly crashes near Central and Maple on June 20 and near Pennsylvania Boulevard just south of Central on May 23. In that context, the International District crash is not just a single collision but another example of how dangerous it remains to cross the corridor on foot, especially for residents who depend on buses, nearby businesses and walkable access between neighborhoods.
A separate set of 2025 University of New Mexico data cited by KOAT showed 39 of 89 pedestrian deaths occurred in Bernalillo County, a reminder of how concentrated the problem has become here. City leaders have said they are still working to make roads safer along East Central Avenue, including additional pedestrian treatments. APD has not released further findings, and the investigation into the Central and Madeira crash is ongoing.
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