Palm Springs Pedestrian Fatality on Military Trail
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Palm Springs Pedestrian Fatality on Military Trail
- A pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver in Palm Springs on September 3, 2026, near Military Trail and Lake Worth Road.
- This incident follows another fatal pedestrian crash on South Military Trail on August 30, 2026, which resulted in the death of 24-year-old Lester Gutierrez.
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A pedestrian died after being hit by a vehicle in Palm Springs on Thursday, September 3, 2026. The collision occurred around 7:11 a.m. near the intersection of Military Trail and Lake Worth Road, involving a gray Volkswagen Jetta. Authorities from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue confirmed the fatality. Neither the pedestrian nor the driver has been publicly identified.
This incident is one of several recent pedestrian fatalities in the Palm Beach County area. Just days prior, on August 30, 2026, 24-year-old Lester Gutierrez died after being struck by an SUV on South Military Trail in unincorporated West Palm Beach. He was reportedly crossing mid-block outside of a marked crosswalk when the collision occurred.
Palm Beach County has a high rate of pedestrian accidents. Preliminary 2025 data indicated 759 pedestrian crashes, accounting for approximately two pedestrian accidents daily. Pedestrian fatalities made up nearly one in five traffic deaths in the county in 2025, with 31 recorded. Between 2019 and 2024, pedestrian crashes in Palm Beach County increased by 27.5%, injuries by 22%, and fatalities by 45.2%.
In response to these concerns, the Village of Palm Springs has launched a “Vision Zero” initiative, aiming to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries. Additionally, the Palm Springs Police Department introduced “Operation Desert Zero” in March 2026, targeting dangerous driving behaviors like speeding, reckless driving, DUIs, red-light violations, and pedestrian safety along busy corridors. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division also received first place in the Florida Law Enforcement Liaison Traffic Safety Challenge for agencies with over 401 officers, and is conducting high-visibility enforcement through May 2027 to educate drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.