Published: July 22, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Long Beach, CA) – A man died early Wednesday after the car he was driving left a road in East Long Beach and came to rest submerged in a channel beneath a bridge, authorities said.
The Long Beach Fire Department reported that the collision occurred shortly before 4:25 a.m. on Studebaker Road near Loynes Drive. According to the department, the driver, a man in his 60s, had been traveling southbound on Studebaker Road when the vehicle left the roadway for reasons that were not yet known.
The car went through a fence and settled in the Los Cerritos Channel underneath a bridge just south of Loynes Drive, authorities said. Fire officials said the driver was thrown from the vehicle during the wreck and taken to a hospital, where he was later declared dead. His name and age were not released while family members were being notified.
A woman who had been in the front passenger seat managed to escape the car and reach shore, where she flagged down help, according to the fire department. She was also transported to a hospital for treatment, and her condition was not immediately known. Officials said the circumstances of the crash remained under investigation. Fire officials noted this was the 25th deadly crash recorded in the city so far this year, compared with 26 at the same point a year earlier.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the Studebaker Road Collision
When a single-vehicle crash results in a death, investigators typically work to reconstruct how and why the vehicle left the roadway. Because the fire department has said the cause remains under investigation, no conclusion about fault can be drawn at this stage. The following framework is general and applies only if the evidence eventually supports it.
Under California Civil Code section 1714(a), a person is responsible for injuries caused to another by a lack of ordinary care. In a case like this, investigators and any civil claimants would examine roadway conditions, vehicle mechanics, the presence of barriers or fencing along the channel, and whether any other vehicle or road hazard contributed. Where speed is a question, California Vehicle Code section 22350, the Basic Speed Law, requires drivers to travel at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for conditions, and Evidence Code section 669 can create a presumption of negligence when a safety statute is violated and that violation proximately causes injury of the kind the statute guards against.
If a surviving family member were to pursue a civil claim, California law provides several avenues. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death action, generally a surviving spouse, domestic partner, children, or certain other heirs. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 addresses survival actions that pass to a decedent's successor in interest. The measure of recoverable damages is governed by Civil Code section 3333, and where more than one party may share responsibility, Civil Code section 1431.2 allocates non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault. Any such action would be subject to the two-year deadline set by Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.
What Families and Survivors Can Do
Families coping with a sudden loss and survivors recovering from serious injuries can take practical steps to protect their interests while the investigation continues. Requesting a copy of the official collision report, preserving any vehicle and scene evidence, keeping medical records, and noting applicable reporting requirements can matter later; a driver involved in an injury or fatal crash generally must report it to police within 24 hours under Vehicle Code section 20008 and to the DMV within 10 days under Vehicle Code section 16000. Because deadlines are firm and the facts here are still developing, anyone affected may wish to speak with a qualified attorney about their rights and options. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Long Beach Car Accident Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. RSS_LBPOST – Driver killed in crash that left car submerged in Los Cerritos Channel: https://lbpost.com/news/crash-studebaker-driver-killed
