The collision happened around 2:55 p.m. as the students stood on the southwest corner of the intersection during a team run.
Anaheim, CA – Eight Anaheim High School track students were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a vehicle swerved onto a sidewalk and struck them as they waited to cross North Harbor Boulevard at North Street, according to police.
The collision happened around 2:55 p.m. as the students stood on the southwest corner of the intersection during a team run.
Anaheim police said the driver, a 27-year-old Anaheim man, suddenly veered off the roadway and hit the group.
All eight students were transported to hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to moderate. The driver was also taken to a hospital for treatment. Investigators said he was suspected of driving under the influence, though no arrest had been made as of late Wednesday afternoon.
The team's coach, who was running behind the students, witnessed the impact and rushed toward them as emergency responders arrived.
The crash remains under investigation.
In recent years, Anaheim has consistently recorded a high volume of traffic accidents, leading Orange County in total crash volume, which is partially attributed to its large population. In 2022 alone, Anaheim saw 7,398 total traffic accidents, with 1,134 of these being injury and fatal crashes, making it the city with the highest number of such incidents in Orange County that year. For 2021, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported 2,084 total victims killed and injured in fatal and injury collisions in Anaheim. Unsafe speed, driving under the influence (DUI), and right-of-way violations continue to be the primary causes of these crashes. Data from the Anaheim Police Department highlights the persistence of speeding issues; in 2023, there were 484 crashes attributed to unsafe speed, resulting in 498 injuries and 2 fatalities, with similar figures in 2024 (535 crashes, 520 injuries, 1 fatality). Anaheim also faces ongoing challenges with vulnerable road users, with significant numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities occurring annually, often near freeway entrances, poorly lit intersections, and high-speed zones. The city continues to focus on increased enforcement, community education, and engineering improvements to mitigate these risks.
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