Published: June 4, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Stanton, CA) – Two women died after a vehicle struck them as they crossed a street in the Stanton area of Orange County on a Monday night, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
The collision took place around 9 p.m. on Cerritos Avenue near Magnolia Avenue, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said. Deputies who arrived at the scene located two injured pedestrians.
Investigators reported that the two women, identified by the Sheriff's Department as a mother and her adult daughter, were struck by a white BMW as they crossed Magnolia Avenue. Both were transported to a hospital, where they later died from their injuries.
According to the Sheriff's Department, the women were not within a crosswalk when they were hit. The motorist involved remained at the scene and was described as cooperating with investigators. Authorities said impairment was not suspected and that no arrest had been made.
Analysis of the Stanton Pedestrian Collision
Fatal pedestrian collisions in California typically prompt investigators to reconstruct the moments before impact, including each party's position, speed, and visibility. Because officials reported that the two women were crossing outside a crosswalk, any later civil review would likely look closely at the duties the law places on both drivers and pedestrians. Under California Vehicle Code section 21954, a pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk must yield to vehicles that are close enough to present an immediate hazard, while the same statute preserves a driver's separate obligation to exercise due care for pedestrian safety.
That shared-duty framework is significant because the location of a crossing does not by itself resolve questions of fault. California Vehicle Code section 21950, which addresses crosswalk right-of-way, also reinforces that drivers must continue to use due care toward pedestrians regardless of where a person is in the roadway. Investigators commonly examine whether a driver was traveling at a reasonable speed for the conditions; California Vehicle Code section 22350, the Basic Speed Law, prohibits driving faster than is prudent given visibility, traffic, and road conditions, and could become relevant if evidence indicated excessive speed at night.
Where a death results, California law allows certain surviving family members to pursue civil claims. Code of Civil Procedure section 377.60 identifies who may bring a wrongful death action, generally including a surviving spouse, domestic partner, and children. A related survival claim under Code of Civil Procedure section 377.30 may allow a decedent's successor in interest or personal representative to continue causes of action the decedent could have brought. How responsibility might ultimately be allocated would depend on the evidence; Civil Code section 1431.2 governs how non-economic damages are divided according to each party's share of fault. None of these statutes establishes what happened here, and no conclusion about fault should be drawn from the reported facts alone.
What Families Can Do
Families coping with a sudden loss can take practical steps while grief is still raw: request a copy of the official collision report, preserve any photographs, surveillance footage, or vehicle information, and keep records of medical and funeral expenses. California's two-year statute of limitations under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 can pass quickly, and shorter deadlines may apply if a public entity is involved, so it is wise to understand the timeline early. Speaking with an attorney can help a family understand their options without any obligation. To discuss a specific situation, call or text (888) 800-6731 or click here for 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. ABC7 – Mother, daughter hit and killed by car while crossing street in Stanton, deputies say – ABC7 Los Angeles: https://abc7.com/post/mother-daughter-hit-killed-car-stanton/19220056/
