Edward Heiss Killed in Modesto Pedestrian Accident

Edward Heiss Was Using a Walker and Crossing With the Signal When a Left-Turning Truck Struck Him at Prescott Road and Mount Vernon Drive

MODESTO, CALIFORNIA (November 8, 2026) – A 73-year-old man identified as Edward Heiss was killed in a pedestrian accident at Prescott Road and Mount Vernon Drive in Modesto.

Stanislaus County officials are saying that the crash occurred around 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday. Edward Heiss was using a walker and crossing the intersection with the walk signal when a truck turning left from Mount Vernon Drive struck him, according to CBS Sacramento.

Modesto police said the 46-year-old truck driver did not see Heiss in the crosswalk. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, and the crash was captured on video.

Emergency responders were called, and Edward Heiss was taken to a hospital, where he died. Police said his death was the 15th traffic-related fatality in Modesto this year, and that charges could be forwarded later, though no decision had been made.

An employee at a nearby corner store remembered Heiss, who went by Ed, as a generous regular who sometimes brought him home-cooked food. The employee also said he has seen frequent crashes and near-misses at the intersection.

Left turns across crosswalks have been a recurring hazard in Modesto. In October, a pedestrian crossing Floyd Avenue was hospitalized after a driver turning left onto Coffee Road struck them, according to GV Wire.

That same month, two teenage girls were killed in a Coffee Road crosswalk, and in February a woman was killed crossing Pelandale Avenue. Whether the signal at Prescott Road and Mount Vernon Drive gives pedestrians a head start before turning traffic moves, or offers drivers a protected left-turn arrow, remains an open question.

Liability for Modesto Pedestrian Accidents

Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within any marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The same statute requires drivers approaching a pedestrian in a crosswalk to exercise all due care and to slow down or take other action as necessary to protect that person. Turning drivers carry particular responsibility, because pedestrians crossing with a walk signal are lawfully in the path of every vehicle turning through the intersection. Under California law, a driver who violates a safety statute and injures someone the statute was meant to protect is presumed negligent unless the driver can justify the violation. When the driver is on the job, the employer may also share responsibility, and several factors usually shape the outcome.

• Yielding: Drivers turning across a crosswalk must wait until pedestrians have safely cleared their path.
• Lookout: A driver’s duty includes actively scanning crosswalks before and during a turn.
• Blind Spots: Pickups and larger trucks can have high hoods and thick roof pillars that hide pedestrians, which calls for extra caution.
• Signal Timing: The phasing of walk signals and turn arrows affects how often turning vehicles and pedestrians share the same space.
• Video Evidence: Traffic and business cameras can show signal status, vehicle speed, and when a pedestrian entered the crosswalk.

The California Supreme Court applied these rules in Schmitt v. Henderson (1969). An elderly man was crossing a San Francisco intersection within a marked crosswalk and with a green light when a driver making a left turn behind him struck him, later testifying she did not see him until it was too late. The jury found for the driver, but the court reversed, holding that her failure to yield violated the crosswalk statute and constituted negligence as a matter of law. The court also ruled that a pedestrian crossing lawfully is not required to look behind for turning cars and may rely on drivers to respect the right-of-way. It emphasized that motorists turning at intersections must assume a large measure of responsibility for avoiding the people crossing in front of them.

Older Pedestrians Face Greater Danger

Older adults are among the most vulnerable people on the road when they walk. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths of pedestrians 65 and older rose 56 percent from 2014 to 2023. NHTSA’s pedestrian data also show that 19 percent of people 65 and older killed in traffic crashes in 2023, or 1,533 of 7,891, were pedestrians. Slower walking speeds, reliance on mobility aids, and greater vulnerability to injury all leave older pedestrians less margin when a driver fails to yield. Communities and drivers can take several steps to reduce that risk.

• Leading Intervals: Signals that give pedestrians a few seconds’ head start make them more visible before turning traffic moves.
• Protected Turns: Left-turn arrows that stop turning vehicles while pedestrians cross remove a common conflict.
• Crossing Time: Walk signals timed for slower walkers help older adults and people with mobility devices finish crossing.
• Visibility: Brighter crosswalk markings, curb extensions, and good lighting make people in the crosswalk easier to see.
• Driver Habits: Drivers who pause and scan the full crosswalk before turning dramatically reduce the chance of striking someone.

Crosswalks are supposed to be the safest place to cross a street, and the law treats them that way. When drivers fail to yield and agencies fail to design intersections with pedestrians in mind, the consequences fall hardest on older residents and people who rely on mobility aids. Families who lose a loved one in a crosswalk have the right to a full account of how it happened. They also have the right to hold accountable anyone whose negligence contributed to the death. Pressing for those answers can lead to changes that protect the next person who steps off the curb.

Investigating Pedestrian Accidents in Modesto

We at Feher Law offer our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and neighbors of Edward Heiss. We hope this loss leads to accountability and to changes that make Modesto intersections safer for people who walk, especially older residents. This crash raises serious safety concerns about turning traffic and crosswalk protection in the city. What changes at Prescott Road and Mount Vernon Drive would give people crossing on foot a safer path through the intersection?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a pedestrian accident in Modesto or elsewhere in Stanislaus County? California law gives people in crosswalks the right-of-way, and families can hold negligent drivers and other responsible parties accountable when that right is ignored. In these cases, several parties, from the driver to an employer to the agency that times the signals, may each offer a different version of events. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened by reviewing intersection video, signal timing data, and the accounts of people who saw the crash. If you have questions about your rights or want help understanding your next steps, we are here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.