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Los Angeles, CA (August 19, 2026) – A driver fled after striking two pedestrians with a light-colored sedan at Western Avenue and 56th Street in South Los Angeles late on Monday night, August 17, killing one and critically injuring the other, according to police. The sedan had been heading north on Western Avenue before the crash and continued north afterward.
Both victims were taken to a hospital, where one was pronounced dead. The surviving victim remains hospitalized with severe injuries. The driver has not been identified.
The LAPD South Traffic Division is investigating and asks anyone with information to contact Officer Hurd at 213-321-9681. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through LA Crime Stoppers.
Our condolences go out to the victim’s family and loved ones.
Why Do Certain City Roads See Repeated Pedestrian Hit-and-Runs?
Wide, multi-lane arterial streets like this one carry higher speeds and longer crossing distances than smaller residential streets, which can make it harder for pedestrians to safely reach the other side before a signal changes. These same features can also make it easier for a fleeing vehicle to blend into traffic.
Cities track a small share of streets where a large share of pedestrian deaths and severe injuries cluster, because street design, traffic volume, and crossing distance usually overlap in these locations. Once a pattern is identified, it can inform potential changes like added crosswalks, reduced speed limits, or median refuges.
Investigators handling a hit-and-run on a stretch with a known history draw on lessons from prior cases in the area, including analyzing nearby camera footage and typical getaway routes. This kind of pattern recognition can sometimes speed up the identification of a vehicle, even without an immediate witness.
