Pedestrian Struck by Three Vehicles on Pacific Avenue in Long Beach Dies

Published: September 16, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC

(Long Beach, CA) – A man walking across a Long Beach street on Sunday evening died after being struck by three separate vehicles, authorities said.

The Long Beach Police Department said officers were dispatched at about 7:24 p.m. to a report of an injury collision on Pacific Avenue, just north of Pacific Coast Highway. Arriving officers located an injured man lying in the roadway and provided aid until paramedics from the Long Beach Fire Department reached the scene, according to police.

The man was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said. A preliminary investigation indicated the man had been crossing Pacific Avenue heading east, outside of a marked crosswalk, and had entered the roadway from the center median, according to the department.

Police said the man was first hit by a white SUV, then by a dark-colored sedan, and finally by a 2021 Jaguar. The driver of the Jaguar stayed at the scene and worked with investigators, according to police, while the other two drivers left the area, the Long Beach Post reported. LBPD spokesperson Andres Bonilla told the Post that the man was in his 50s. His name was being withheld until the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner could notify relatives.

Detectives said that speed, distracted driving and impairment did not appear to be factors, and the investigation is continuing. According to the Post, the death was the city's 34th traffic fatality of 2026, compared with 36 by the same date a year earlier.

Analysis of the Long Beach Pedestrian Collision

When a pedestrian dies after being struck by more than one vehicle, investigators typically try to determine which impacts occurred, in what order, and what each involved driver could reasonably observe and avoid. In California, the duties of drivers and pedestrians toward one another are governed in part by statute. Under Vehicle Code section 21954, a pedestrian crossing a roadway outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk must yield to vehicles close enough to be an immediate hazard, but the same statute preserves each driver's independent duty to exercise due care for pedestrian safety. The related framework in Vehicle Code section 21950 similarly balances the obligations of drivers and pedestrians.

Civil liability, if any, would turn on ordinary negligence principles. Civil Code section 1714(a) makes a person responsible for injury caused by a lack of ordinary care, except to the extent the injured person contributed to the harm. Where a statutory violation is shown, Evidence Code section 669 can create a presumption of negligence if the violation was a proximate cause of the kind of injury the law was meant to prevent. California also allocates non-economic damages by each party's share of fault under Civil Code section 1431.2, which can be significant in cases involving multiple vehicles and disputed conduct.

Because two drivers reportedly left the scene, other statutes may become relevant if those drivers are identified. Vehicle Code section 20001 requires a driver involved in a crash causing injury or death to stop immediately and fulfill duties owed to those involved and to police. When a driver is never identified, Insurance Code section 11580.2 may allow certain claimants to seek uninsured-motorist benefits under an applicable policy. None of these observations establishes fault here; they describe only the legal questions such an investigation typically raises.

What Families Can Do

Families who lose a loved one in a multi-vehicle pedestrian crash can take practical steps while the investigation proceeds: request the official collision report, preserve any dashcam or surveillance footage before it is overwritten, identify potential witnesses, and keep records of medical and funeral expenses. A wrongful-death claim may be available to eligible survivors under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60, and personal-injury claims are generally subject to the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. Because unidentified drivers and multiple insurers can complicate recovery, families weighing their options may benefit from an early, no-obligation consultation with an attorney.

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.

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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. Patch – Pedestrian Struck By 3 Vehicles In Long Beach Dies; 2 Drivers Sought