Muhammad Saddique Obituary, Death – A man who was fatally struck by a vehicle on Monday morning in Sacramento’s Natomas Park neighborhood has been identified as 64-year-old Muhammad Saddique, a Sacramento resident, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. near Club Center Drive and Banfield Drive, prompting officers from the Sacramento Police Department to respond to the scene. As of 8:57 a.m., a section of the roadway near the crash site was closed for investigation. The vehicle involved was part of the Sacramento Regional Transit District’s (SacRT) SmaRT Ride on-demand transit service. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene following the crash.
SacRT, which operates the transit service, has stated that they are unable to release video footage of the crash, as it is part of an ongoing investigation. Details regarding the cause of the accident have not yet been released, and it remains unclear what led to the fatal incident. No other injuries were reported.
This tragic event has increased concerns among local residents about safety in the area. Many have voiced frustration, noting that this is not the first fatal accident to occur in the vicinity. Brian Moore, a resident of Natomas, expressed his sadness and concern: “It’s just sad. It’s happening at the same spot, so something must be done. I don’t know if it needs a traffic light or more visible stop signs, but clearly, something is not right.”
Moore’s sentiments reflect the growing worry within the community, especially in light of a similar incident nearly three months earlier, when a cyclist was struck and killed in the same area. This pattern of accidents has led many to call for safety improvements in the neighborhood.
Road safety advocate Isaac Gonzalez, who founded the organization Slow Down Sacramento, emphasized the need for urgent action to address the broader issue of traffic-related fatalities in the region. Gonzalez highlighted the alarming statistic that 123 people have died from vehicle crashes in Sacramento County since the beginning of the year.
He drew comparisons to other types of safety hazards, stating, “If 123 people died in our swimming pools, we would fix the swimming pools. If 123 people died in our playgrounds, we would figure a way to fix our playgrounds. But 123 people, our neighbors, die on our roadways and we’re not doing anything demonstrably to change those roads. What does that say about our priorities? What does that say about our safety?”
Gonzalez’s comments echo the frustration felt by many residents who believe that the city’s infrastructure and traffic systems need to be improved to prevent further tragedies. The rising number of fatalities has prompted calls for new measures, such as additional traffic signals, better signage, and traffic calming features in high-risk areas like Natomas Park.
SacRT officials noted that this is the first fatality involving one of their buses this year. While the transit service has expressed condolences to Saddique’s family, they have also committed to cooperating fully with investigators to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
The incident has left many in the community grappling with feelings of loss and concern for their safety. Residents are urging local authorities to take swift action to implement necessary safety measures that could prevent future accidents in the area. The frequent incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists in Sacramento have sparked debates about road design, driver awareness, and the need for comprehensive strategies to reduce fatalities.
As the investigation continues, residents are left hoping for a solution that will prioritize the safety of all who use the city’s roadways. The ongoing dialogue surrounding traffic fatalities in Sacramento underscores the need for a collective effort from city officials, transportation agencies, and community members to address the issue and prevent further loss of life.
In the meantime, Muhammad Saddique’s death adds to the growing toll of traffic-related deaths in the county this year, further emphasizing the need for action. While it remains unclear what specific measures will be implemented, the hope is that this tragedy will serve as a catalyst for meaningful change in how the city approaches road safety.