Published: September 26, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Long Beach, CA) – A pedestrian died Friday evening after being struck by a driver who fled the scene of a collision in Long Beach, according to police.
The Long Beach Police Department said officers were dispatched to Baltic Avenue and Burnett Street at about 7:20 p.m. on Friday. Based on the preliminary investigation, the department said a pedestrian was crossing north on Baltic within a marked crosswalk when a white pickup truck heading south attempted a left turn onto Burnett and made contact with the person walking.
According to police, the driver did not remain at the scene and instead continued east on Burnett. Investigators said no further description of the pickup was available at the time. The pedestrian was transported to a hospital and later died there, the department said, and the person's identity had not been released.
The department said that speed, distraction and impairment were not thought to have played a role, and that the investigation into how the collision happened was continuing. According to city records compiled by NBC Los Angeles, the incident marked the 39th deadly crash in Long Beach this year and the eighth traffic-related death during the month. Police asked anyone with information to contact the LBPD Collision Investigation Detail.
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 Long Beach Pedestrian Collision
When a crash results in death and the driver leaves the scene, investigators typically look first at whether the departure itself violated the law. California Vehicle Code section 20001 requires any driver involved in a crash causing injury or death to stop immediately and meet the duties set out in Vehicle Code section 20003, which include exchanging identifying information and rendering reasonable assistance to anyone hurt. Whether those obligations were met is a question that would turn on the facts developed by police.
Because the department has said the pedestrian was reported to be within a marked crosswalk, investigators may also consider Vehicle Code section 21950, which requires drivers to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing in a marked crosswalk while imposing a separate duty of care on pedestrians. If evidence were later to establish a statutory violation that proximately caused the death, Evidence Code section 669 can allow a presumption of negligence where the victim falls within the class the statute was meant to protect. Any civil claim would still rest on the general negligence standard in Civil Code section 1714, under which each person is responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care.
Where a driver remains unidentified, as reported here, uninsured motorist coverage under Insurance Code section 11580.2 can become important, because that coverage may allow an insured and certain surviving heirs to recover for bodily injury even when the responsible driver is never located. A fatal collision may also give rise to a wrongful death action under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 and a survival claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30, with damages measured under Civil Code section 3333. None of this establishes fault, which remains for investigators and, potentially, the courts to determine.
What Families and Survivors Can Do
Families facing the sudden loss of a loved one in a hit-and-run have practical steps they can take while grief is still raw. Requesting a copy of the traffic collision report, preserving any nearby surveillance or doorbell footage before it is overwritten, and keeping records related to the person's care and funeral costs can all matter later. It also helps to review the family's own auto policies for uninsured motorist coverage, since Insurance Code section 11580.2 may provide a path to recovery when a driver is never found. California's two-year deadline for personal injury and wrongful death claims under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 can pass quickly, so families with questions may want to speak with an attorney early.
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. NBC Los Angeles – Pedestrian dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver in Long Beach
2. CBS News – Woman dead after being struck by hit-and-run driver, train in Long Beach – CBS News
