The fatal crash was reported shortly after 1:18 a.m. near the Mollison Avenue on-ramp
El Cajon, CA — The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has released the identity of a pedestrian who was hit and killed along Interstate 8 in El Cajon early Friday morning.
The Medical Examiner identified the pedestrian as 21-year-old Naryon Nicholas Esplain
The San Diego Police Department said Esplain was crossing Interstate 8, near Mollison Avenue, when he was hit by a vehicle at about 1:18 a.m. on January 17, 2026.
Esplain suffered severe injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene at about 1:32 a.m.
Original Story
El Cajon, CA — A pedestrian was struck and killed early Friday morning while walking on westbound Interstate 8 in El Cajon, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The fatal crash was reported shortly after 1:18 a.m. near the Mollison Avenue on-ramp
According to CHP logs, the involved driver stopped immediately after the collision and attempted to warn approaching motorists by signaling them to slow down until officers arrived at the scene.
CHP officers conducted a DUI investigation at the scene, including a breathalyzer test, and determined that alcohol or drugs were not factors in the crash. The driver was later escorted off the freeway as the investigation continued.
The vehicle sustained moderate damage to its right front end.
Authorities said the pedestrian did not appear to be connected to a disabled vehicle or a prior traffic collision. The area was described as very dark at the time of the incident. Traffic on westbound I-8 was intermittently stopped or slowed as officers conducted lane breaks and coordinated emergency response efforts.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner was notified and will work to identify the pedestrian.
In 2023, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) reported that El Cajon had 572 people killed or injured in traffic collisions, ranking it 11th out of 62 similarly sized cities in the state for total fatal and injury crashes. Alcohol-involved collisions accounted for 57 victims, and youth drinking drivers contributed to 10 incidents involving drivers under 21. Vulnerable road users were significantly affected: 49 pedestrians were killed or injured, placing El Cajon near the top of peer cities for pedestrian crash victims, and 24 bicyclists were also impacted. Motorcycle crashes numbered 34. In categories like speed-related and nighttime (9 pm–2:59 am) crashes, El Cajon ranked around the middle of similarly sized cities, with 70 and 50 fatal/injury collisions, respectively, and 43 hit-and-run incidents reported. DUI arrests in the city numbered 112 for the year, according to OTS data.
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