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LONG BEACH, Los Angeles County, Calif., Sept. 27, 2026 — A woman died on Friday night, September 25, after a hit-and-run driver struck her in a marked crosswalk in Long Beach, according to the Long Beach Police Department. The crash happened at Baltic Avenue and Burnett Street.
The woman was walking north through the crosswalk on Baltic Avenue around 7:20 p.m. when a white pickup truck headed south struck her while turning east onto Burnett Street. The truck's driver kept going east on Burnett and has not been identified.
Long Beach Fire Department crews took the woman to a hospital, where she died of her injuries, according to police. Her name has not been released. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is withholding her identity until relatives are notified, and her age has not been disclosed.
A preliminary investigation found no sign that speed or impaired or distracted driving played a role. The search for the driver and the truck continues. Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash to call the LBPD Collision Investigation Detail. Tips can also go to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the person who died.
Who Faces the Greatest Danger When Hit-and-Run Drivers Flee a Crosswalk
Pedestrians carry almost none of the protection a vehicle occupant has. There is no door, no airbag, no seat belt between a person's body and a truck's grille. That gap in protection is why crosswalk crashes involving a pedestrian result in death or serious injury far more commonly than collisions between two vehicles at similar speeds.
Older adults and people walking after dark are especially exposed. Reduced visibility at night makes it harder for drivers to see someone stepping off a curb, and older pedestrians are less able to move quickly out of the path of an oncoming vehicle. Children can be just as vulnerable because they are shorter and harder for drivers to spot in a crosswalk, especially when a vehicle is turning, and a driver's attention is split between oncoming traffic and the crossing itself.
Hit-and-run cases add another layer of harm because they delay medical attention and complicate efforts to hold a driver accountable. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 200,000 vehicle occupants were injured in hit-and-run crashes in 2023. Pedestrians struck in these incidents usually depend on witnesses coming forward, since the driver who could explain what happened has already left the scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does seat belt use matter so much in traffic fatalities?
Seat belts keep occupants from being thrown from a vehicle or against its interior during a crash, which is one of the leading causes of death in collisions. They matter less in crosswalk crashes like this one, but they remain the single most effective protection for anyone riding in a vehicle involved in a crash.
What should a family do after a fatal crash?
Families can request the police report once it's finalized, ask the investigating agency for a case number and contact information, and reach out to the medical examiner's office for information on identification and release of remains. Keeping a record of all communications with investigators can help later.
How are fatal crashes like this one investigated?
Officers typically canvass for witnesses, review any available surveillance or dash-cam footage, examine the scene for physical evidence, and try to trace a suspect vehicle through paint transfer, debris, or license plate readers. Hit-and-run cases lean heavily on tips from the public.
How long do these investigations take?
Timelines vary widely. Some hit-and-run cases are resolved within days if a vehicle is identified quickly; others remain open for months while detectives pursue leads or wait on lab results.
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Crosswalk Crash in Long Beach, CA
If you witness a crash like this, call 911 immediately and try to note the vehicle's description, direction of travel, and license plate if possible. That information can be the difference in identifying a driver who flees the scene.
Anyone involved as a pedestrian, even if injuries seem minor at first, should get a medical evaluation quickly. Some injuries, including internal bleeding or head trauma, aren't obvious right away. Keep records of any treatment, since they can matter later for insurance or legal purposes.
If you have information about this crash or any hit-and-run in Long Beach, contact the police department's investigators or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers. Even small details, a partial plate, a description of the driver, can help move a case forward.
