This is a developing story and we’ll update it when further information is available.
Douglas Vargas had lived near 23rd Street for about 20 years and started most days with a walk around the neighborhood, his niece, Joanna Hernandez, said, according to reports.
On Thursday, a driver struck and killed the 65-year-old at about 6:15 a.m. at 23rd Street and Maricopa Avenue. His family has since identified him. The driver stayed at the scene, Richmond police spokesperson Lt. Joseph England said.
Vargas is the second pedestrian killed on 23rd Street in Richmond in about a month, on one of the city streets where its most serious crashes are concentrated.
Police closed Maricopa Avenue between 23rd and 24th streets for several hours Thursday morning while officers investigated.
On Aug. 23, a hit-and-run driver struck and killed 81-year-old Rafael Delgado as he crossed 23rd Street at Hellings Avenue, about three and a half blocks from where Thursday’s crash happened. Police arrested a 66-year-old Richmond man about a week later on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and driving with a suspended license.
According to city street safety data, Richmond averaged six fatal crashes and 31 crashes with severe injuries each year in the six years ending in 2025. Each year also saw an average of 49 crashes involving pedestrians and 32 involving bicyclists.
City officials found that 63% of those crashes happened on just 8% of city roads. Those “high-injury corridors” include Barrett Avenue, Cutting Boulevard, Macdonald Avenue, San Pablo Avenue, and 22nd and 23rd streets.
“I just ask everyone to slow down,” Hernandez told NBC Bay Area. “In the name of Douglas Vargas, slow down.”
