Published: August 30, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Richmond, CA) – An 81-year-old man died after being struck by a vehicle whose driver left the scene in Richmond on Sunday night, according to the Richmond Police Department.
Police said the man was walking near the crosswalk at 23rd Street and Hellings Avenue a little before 8:30 p.m. when a vehicle hit him. The driver did not stop and drove off, according to police.
Investigators noted the man had lived in Richmond for six decades and worked as a retired sheet metal worker. He was walking between two nearby restaurants he often visited, his family said, and would have turned 82 on Sept. 1.
Traffic investigators with the Richmond Police Department are handling the case. Authorities have not publicly shared a description of the vehicle involved, but officials said they are following leads and examining video gathered from the surrounding area. The man's family and friends set up a memorial at the intersection and have appealed to the public and to the driver to come forward.
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 Richmond Pedestrian Collision
When a driver leaves the scene of a crash that injures or kills someone, California law treats that departure as a serious matter separate from how the collision itself occurred. Under Vehicle Code section 20001, a driver involved in a crash resulting in injury or death must immediately stop 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 duties were met is something investigators typically work to determine as they identify a suspect vehicle.
Because the location involved a crosswalk, investigators may also consider the right-of-way rules in Vehicle Code section 21950, which requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks while also placing a duty of due care on pedestrians. More broadly, Civil Code section 1714(a) makes each person responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care, and Evidence Code section 669 allows negligence to be presumed if evidence shows a driver violated a safety statute that proximately caused the type of harm the statute was meant to prevent. None of these principles establishes fault here; they simply describe the framework a court would apply if the evidence supports it.
Where a fatal crash is caused by a driver who is never identified or who lacks insurance, Insurance Code section 11580.2 can be significant. That statute generally requires uninsured motorist coverage in California auto policies unless it is rejected in writing, and it may allow certain family members to seek bodily-injury recovery from a policy when the responsible driver is uninsured or unidentified, including in hit-and-run situations. In a death case, Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death claim, and Civil Code section 3333 sets the general measure of damages for the harm proximately caused.
What Families Can Do
Families coping with a sudden loss of this kind often benefit from obtaining the official collision report, preserving any nearby surveillance or dashcam footage before it is overwritten, and documenting the intersection where the crash happened. Reviewing the family's own auto policies for uninsured motorist coverage can matter a great deal when a driver flees, and it is worth keeping in mind that Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 generally sets a two-year deadline for personal injury and related claims in California. Anyone with questions about their rights after a fatal hit-and-run can speak with an attorney to understand their options. 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.
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_KTVU – Richmond police searching for hit-and-run driver who killed 81-year-old man: https://www.ktvu.com/news/richmond-police-searching-hit-and-run-driver-who-killed-81-year-old-man-his-family-wants-justice