Rancho Peñasquitos, CA (March 10, 2026) – A 69-year-old Rancho Peñasquitos resident, Rene Steiner, was gravely injured after being struck by a school bus while walking his dogs in San Diego.
Incident Details: According to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the crash occurred around 8:30 a.m. on March 10, 2026, at the intersection of Paseo Montalban and Via Cima Bella. Authorities reported that a Poway Unified School District school bus driven by a 76-year-old driver struck Steiner while he was walking through the intersection. There were no students on the bus at the time of the collision.
Steiner suffered life-threatening injuries, including a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, multiple rib fractures, and pulmonary contusions. An SDPD officer who came upon the scene began CPR before paramedics arrived and transported Steiner to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla for emergency treatment.
Steiner’s dogs were not injured in the incident, and the bus driver was also unharmed.
Investigation: The SDPD is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Authorities will likely review several factors as part of the investigation, including:
- Right-of-way rules at the intersection, which functions as a pedestrian crossing even without painted crosswalk lines under California law.
- Vehicle turning movements, as the bus was reportedly turning left when it struck Steiner.
- Driver visibility and attentiveness, including whether the driver was able to see the pedestrian before the collision.
- Roadway design and traffic conditions, including the width of Paseo Montalban and vehicle speeds in the area.
- Witness accounts and physical evidence, such as the impact point on the windshield and statements from individuals who assisted at the scene.
Police have indicated that drugs or alcohol do not appear to have been factors, but the investigation remains ongoing to determine whether any traffic violations contributed to the crash.
Legal Considerations: California law requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at intersections, even when crosswalk lines are not painted on the roadway. If investigators determine that the school bus driver failed to yield or did not maintain a proper lookout while turning, the driver (and potentially the school district that operates the bus) could face civil liability for the injuries suffered by Steiner.
Because the vehicle involved was a school district bus, the case may also involve claims against a public entity.
If negligence is established, Steiner and his family may be able to pursue a personal injury claim to seek compensation for medical expenses, ongoing care needs, lost income, and the significant physical and emotional impacts of the crash.
My thoughts are with Rene Steiner and his family during this incredibly difficult time, and I sincerely hope he is able to recover from these devastating injuries.
Source: NBC 7 San Diego