Published: July 7, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(North Long Beach, CA) – Authorities are again seeking the public's help to locate a suspect wanted in a 2022 hit-and-run crash that killed a 42-year-old man and his 3-year-old daughter inside their North Long Beach apartment building, according to Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
Hahn, whose district covers North Long Beach, said the crash happened around 10 p.m. on March 1, 2022, at an apartment building near Artesia Boulevard and Rose Avenue while the father and daughter were asleep. According to authorities, the suspect was driving a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup northbound on Rose Avenue near East Artesia Boulevard at the time.
The father was pronounced dead at the scene, Hahn said, while the young girl was taken to a hospital and later died of her injuries. Long Beach Police Department detectives identified the driver, who is reported to have left the scene on foot.
The suspect, 24 years old at the time of the crash, is now named in an arrest warrant. According to Hahn, the warrant alleges two counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony driving under the influence, and one count of felony hit-and-run.
"Jose and Samantha's loved ones have lived with the pain of this unimaginable loss for more than four years now, and still have not gotten justice," Hahn said in a news release, adding, "We are asking anyone who may have any information on where Octavio is or where he may have gone to please share it with detectives. We need your help."
Hahn said the reward for information leading to the suspect's arrest and conviction, previously set at $10,000, was raised to $20,000 in 2025 after the Board of Supervisors approved her motion. Anyone with information about the suspect's whereabouts was asked to contact the LBPD Special Investigations Division.
Analysis of the North Long Beach Hit-and-Run Collision
Collisions of this kind raise a distinct set of legal questions in California, and the following is a general overview rather than an assessment of this case. Under California Vehicle Code section 20001, a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must immediately stop at the scene, exchange identifying information, and render reasonable assistance; the duties owed at the scene are set out in Vehicle Code section 20003. Leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash can be charged as a felony. When investigators allege a driver fled after a fatal collision, these are the statutes that typically frame the criminal case.
Separate from any criminal proceeding, a civil claim turns on ordinary negligence principles. Civil Code section 1714(a) provides that a person is responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care. Where impairment or unsafe speed is at issue, investigators often examine statutes such as the Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350. If evidence were to show that a driver violated a safety statute, Evidence Code section 669 allows a presumption of negligence when that violation proximately caused the type of harm the statute was meant to prevent and the injured person was among those it protects.
When a crash results in death, California law provides avenues for the family. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death action, generally including a surviving spouse, children, and certain other heirs, while section 377.30 addresses survival claims that pass to a decedent's successor in interest. The measure of damages in such cases is governed by Civil Code section 3333, which allows compensation for all detriment proximately caused. Because a hit-and-run driver may be unidentified or uninsured, families frequently look to uninsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code section 11580.2, which can allow recovery from an injured person's own policy when the responsible driver cannot be identified.
What Families and Survivors Can Do
Families affected by a fatal hit-and-run can take several practical steps: request the official police report, preserve any physical evidence and records, keep documentation of medical and funeral expenses, and be mindful of legal deadlines, including the two-year limitations period for most personal injury claims under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Because criminal and civil timelines run separately and uninsured motorist claims carry their own notice requirements, reviewing options early with a qualified attorney can help protect a family's rights. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A California 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_MYNEWSLA – Hit-and-Run Driver That Killed Father, Daughter Remains At Large: https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/07/07/tips-sought-on-dui-suspect-in-hit-and-run-that-killed-father-daughter/
