María Mendoza y tres de sus nietos resultaron heridos en un accidente de peatones cerca de la escuela primaria Eisenhut en Modesto.

Neighbors Used a Floor Jack to Free Maria Mendoza After an SUV Struck Her and Her Grandchildren on the Way to Eisenhut Elementary

Modesto, California (30 de Octubre, 2026) – A grandmother identified as Maria Mendoza and three of her grandchildren were injured in a pedestrian accident near George Eisenhut Elementary School in Modesto.

Stanislaus County officials are saying that the crash occurred around 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, September 17. Maria Mendoza was walking her four grandchildren to school at the crosswalk at Janet Drive and Sheldon Drive when a black Toyota 4Runner struck the group.

Mendoza became trapped beneath the SUV, and neighbors rushed over with a floor jack to lift the vehicle and free her. First responders were called to the scene, and two of the children were airlifted to hospitals while Mendoza and another grandchild were taken by ambulance.

Maria Mendoza suffered first- and third-degree burns and remained hospitalized at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento awaiting surgery. Her 5-year-old grandchild suffered femur fractures in five places, her 11-year-old grandchild suffered a shattered ankle, and her 6-year-old grandchild was also hurt.

A fourth grandchild, age 10, was not physically hurt. The children have since returned home to recover, and the family started a GoFundMe to cover medical bills and the cost of staying near Mendoza in Sacramento.

Modesto police have said no one has been charged or found at fault, and initial findings showed no speeding.

Traffic safety has been a growing concern in Modesto, where the police department investigated 2,489 collisions in 2024, up from 1,912 the year before, according to its annual report. The same reporting noted that the department’s traffic safety unit had shrunk from 21 officers to five. Families may want to know how visible the Janet and Sheldon crosswalk is to drivers during the morning school rush. It may also be worth asking whether warning signs, lights, or a crossing guard were in place there.

Liability for Modesto Pedestrian Accidents

En  Sección 21950 del Código de Vehículos de California, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within any marked crosswalk or any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. The law also requires drivers approaching a crosswalk to use reasonable care and slow down or take any other action needed to keep pedestrians safe. A driver who violates a safety statute can be presumed negligent unless they can show a reasonable excuse for the violation. Liability in a pedestrian case often depends on several factors:

• No ceder: A driver who enters a crosswalk while people are crossing may be presumed negligent under California law.
• Atención al conductor: Phones, navigation screens, and other distractions can keep a driver from seeing pedestrians until it is too late.
• Zonas Escolares: Drivers are expected to slow down and watch for children when approaching a school during arrival and dismissal.
• Visibilidad: Low sun, glare, parked cars, and tall vehicles with large blind spots can hide pedestrians from view.
• Diseño de carreteras: A city or county may share responsibility when a crosswalk lacks adequate markings, lighting, signs, or signals.

California courts have made clear that pedestrians using a crosswalk properly have the right to trust that drivers will obey the law. In Schmitt contra Henderson, decided in 1969, the California Supreme Court considered an elderly man who was knocked down by a left-turning driver while crossing a San Francisco intersection within a marked crosswalk on a green light. The driver testified she did not see him until her car was a few feet away, and a jury ruled in her favor. The court reversed, holding that the failure to yield was negligence as a matter of law and that a pedestrian in a crosswalk had no duty to keep watching behind him. The decision recognized that turning drivers bear a large share of responsibility for avoiding pedestrians.

Keeping Children Safe on the Walk to School

Walking to school is a daily routine for millions of families, but crossing busy streets carries real risk for children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,080 peatones fueron asesinados in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, and an estimated 6,615 children ages 14 and younger were injured as pedestrians that year. A Safe Kids Worldwide fact sheet found that 41 percent of children killed as pedestrians in 2023 were in a crosswalk when they were struck. A marked crossing alone does not guarantee a child’s safety. Families and drivers can take several practical steps to reduce the risk:

• Ve más despacio: Drivers should reduce speed well before a school zone and be ready to stop at every crosswalk.
• Establecer contacto visual: Adults walking with children should try to confirm that approaching drivers have seen them before stepping out.
• Ropa brillante: Light colors and reflective gear make children easier to spot during dim morning hours.
• Tomarse de la mano: Young children should hold an adult’s hand while crossing, since they can dart unpredictably.
• Informe de peligros: Parents can tell school and city officials about faded markings, broken signals, or speeding problems near campus.

Pedestrian safety near schools depends on drivers, city planners, and school districts working together to protect the youngest people on the road. Well-marked crosswalks, reduced speeds, crossing guards, and traffic enforcement can all make the walk to class safer. When a pedestrian is struck, injuries such as fractures, burns, and head trauma can require months of treatment and follow-up care. Injured pedestrians and their families may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption to their daily lives.

Investigating Pedestrian Accidents in Modesto

Nosotros, en Ley Feher wish a full recovery to Maria Mendoza and her grandchildren. We hope this crash leads to safety improvements around Eisenhut Elementary so that no other family is hurt on the walk to school. This crash raises real safety concerns about how well children and their caregivers are protected at crosswalks near local campuses. How could an SUV strike a grandmother and four children in a school crosswalk during the morning drop-off rush?

Have you or a loved one been hit by a car while walking in Modesto or elsewhere in Stanislaus County? Pedestrians injured in a crosswalk can hold careless drivers responsible, and injured people may be entitled to compensation for medical care, lost wages, and the disruption to their daily lives. Early accounts from police and insurers are often preliminary and may not capture everything that happened before impact. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from home security and doorbell camera footage to vehicle data and witness accounts from neighbors who saw the crash. If you need help understanding your options or have questions about your rights, we’re available anytime at (424) 433-4412.