LAPD Seeks Public’s Help After Venice Blvd Hit-and-Run Injures Two

Published: September 26, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC

(Los Angeles, CA) – Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department are asking for public assistance in identifying a driver who left the scene after a collision that seriously hurt two people walking across a Venice Boulevard crosswalk, the department announced on September 26, 2026.

According to the LAPD, the collision took place on September 5, 2022, at roughly 9:10 a.m., when a vehicle heading east on Venice Boulevard struck two pedestrians who were crossing northbound within a marked crosswalk at Abbot Kinney Boulevard. Detectives described the vehicle as a possible 2006-2015 white Lexus GX 470 SUV fitted with a lift kit and oversized tires.

Police said the driver briefly stopped and stepped out of the SUV before getting back in and continuing east on Venice Boulevard. The department reported that the motorist did not remain at the scene or provide aid as the law requires.

Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics treated both pedestrians and took them to a nearby hospital, according to the LAPD, which said one of the two suffered severe injuries. The department has offered a reward of up to $25,000 through the city's Hit-and-Run Reward Program for information leading to identification of the driver, and it asked anyone with details to contact its West Traffic Division.

Analysis of the Venice Boulevard Hit-and-Run Collision

When a driver leaves the scene of a crash that injures someone, California law treats the departure itself as a serious offense. Under Vehicle Code section 20001, a driver involved in a collision that results in injury or death must stop immediately and satisfy the duties set out in related statutes; a violation is a felony. Sections 20003 and 20004 spell out those obligations, which include exchanging identifying information and rendering reasonable assistance, such as helping arrange medical transport for anyone hurt. Whether those duties were met here is a matter police are investigating, and nothing in the available facts establishes fault.

Because the reported crash involved pedestrians in a marked crosswalk, investigators typically look at right-of-way rules. Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing within a marked crosswalk while also placing a duty of due care on pedestrians. In a civil case, an unexcused violation of a safety statute can support a presumption of negligence under Evidence Code section 669, provided the violation was a substantial factor in causing the type of harm the statute was meant to prevent. The general negligence duty in Civil Code section 1714 – the obligation to use ordinary care – would frame any such analysis, and Vehicle Code section 22350, the Basic Speed Law, could become relevant if evidence showed a vehicle was traveling faster than conditions allowed.

A hit-and-run also raises distinct recovery issues because the responsible driver may remain unidentified. California's uninsured motorist framework under Insurance Code section 11580.2 allows an insured person, in appropriate circumstances, to seek bodily injury compensation from their own policy when the at-fault driver cannot be located, including in hit-and-run situations. If a driver is eventually identified, the measure of any tort damages would be governed by Civil Code section 3333, and any allocation of non-economic damages among parties would be assessed under the comparative-fault principles of Civil Code section 1431.2.

What Injured Pedestrians and Their Families Can Do

People hurt in a hit-and-run should obtain the official collision report, keep records of all medical treatment, and preserve any evidence, including nearby surveillance or witness contact information, since identifying an unknown driver often depends on it. It is also worth reviewing one's own auto policy for uninsured motorist coverage, which may apply when the driver is never found. California generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, so acting promptly matters.

Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California pedestrian accident attorney 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.

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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. goldrushcam.com – Los Angeles Police Seek Public’s Help IDing Driver of Hit-and-Run that Leaves Two Pedestrians Severely Injured