Pedestrian Killed by Two Vehicles in Watts; Driver Fled Scene

Published: September 1, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC

(Watts, CA) – A man walking across Imperial Highway was killed late Sunday night when he was hit by two separate vehicles, one of which left the scene, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

An LAPD spokesman said the man was struck around 10 p.m. Sunday in the 1401 block of East Imperial Highway, just south of the Nickerson Gardens community. The pedestrian died at the location, and investigators placed a canopy over the area to shield the body from view, the spokesman said.

According to the LAPD, the man was moving from the south curb toward the north side of Imperial Highway when he was hit by a light-colored SUV headed east. The driver of that SUV did not stop, the department said. As the man lay in the roadway, a second vehicle traveling west on Imperial struck him, and that driver remained and worked with traffic investigators, the LAPD said.

Officers believed the man had been homeless, an LAPD officer said. Investigators with the department's South Traffic Division asked that anyone who saw the collision or has information about the driver or vehicle that fled contact detectives at 213-479-6416.

Analysis of the Watts Pedestrian Collision

Collisions involving a pedestrian and more than one vehicle raise distinct legal questions, and the following is general information rather than any conclusion about this event. When a driver involved in a crash resulting in injury or death does not stop, investigators typically examine possible violations of California Vehicle Code section 20001, which requires a driver in an injury or fatal collision to remain at the scene, and section 20003, which sets out the duties to provide information and render aid. Whether those provisions apply here would depend on facts still being developed by the LAPD.

Investigators reconstructing pedestrian collisions often consider the right-of-way and due-care rules that govern both drivers and people on foot. California Vehicle Code section 21950 addresses a driver's duty to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks while also imposing a duty of care on pedestrians, and section 21954 governs a pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk, requiring that person to yield to nearby vehicles while preserving the driver's separate duty to exercise due care. The Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, may also be examined if evidence suggests a vehicle was traveling faster than was reasonable for the conditions.

In civil terms, California follows the general negligence principle in Civil Code section 1714, under which a person may be responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care. Where a driver is alleged to have violated a safety statute, Evidence Code section 669 can create a presumption of negligence if the violation proximately caused the type of injury the law was meant to prevent. Because two vehicles were reportedly involved, any allocation of responsibility could implicate the comparative-fault rules of Civil Code section 1431.2, which apportion non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault. These are analytical frameworks only; no finding of fault has been reported.

What Families Can Do

When a hit-and-run driver remains unidentified, a family may still have options, and it helps to act early. Obtaining the official traffic collision report, preserving any nearby surveillance or dash-camera footage, and identifying potential witnesses can be important while the LAPD continues its investigation. California law generally allows a wrongful-death claim by certain surviving family members under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, and a survival action under section 377.30, but time limits apply, including the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Uninsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code section 11580.2 can sometimes apply when a driver flees and is never identified. Families weighing these questions can 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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to understand their rights and any applicable deadlines.

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 – Pedestrian Struck By Two Vehicles, Killed in Watts: https://mynewsla.com/crime/2026/08/31/pedestrian-struck-by-two-vehicles-killed-in-watts-2/