Koreatown, California - Pedestrian Killed in Hit-and-Run After Being Struck by Two Vehicles

Koreatown, California (July 23, 2026) - At approximately 12:45 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to the intersection of Vermont Avenue and 7th Street after a pedestrian was struck and killed by two vehicles.

A witness at the scene told investigators the pedestrian was first hit by a vehicle that did not stop. According to the witness, the pedestrian appeared to survive that initial impact but was struck a second time while lying in the roadway, this time by an SUV.

The SUV driver remained at the scene and cooperated with responding officers. The driver of the first vehicle left without stopping and has not been identified.

Preliminary information indicates the pedestrian may have been in a marked crosswalk at the time of the first collision. Investigators have not confirmed the circumstances of either impact.

LAPD closed the southbound lanes of Vermont Avenue south of 7th Street for several hours on the morning of July 23 while detectives processed the scene.

The investigation remains ongoing, and LAPD is working to identify the driver of the first vehicle.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

A crash that starts with a driver who never stops and ends with a second impact leaves a family carrying grief and unanswered questions at the same time.

Fatal Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accidents in Los Angeles, California

When a pedestrian is struck by more than one vehicle, liability can extend beyond a single driver. Attorneys and investigators typically examine:

• Whether the first driver can be identified through traffic cameras, rideshare or delivery app data, paint transfer, or debris left at the scene
• Whether the second driver, even one who stayed and cooperated, had time or opportunity to avoid the pedestrian already in the roadway
• Roadway and lighting conditions at the intersection at the time of the crash

A pedestrian in a marked crosswalk generally has the right of way under California law. Investigators have not confirmed whether that was the case here, but it would not change the family's options either way. California follows a pure comparative fault standard, meaning a family can still recover compensation regardless of what percentage of fault, if any, is eventually assigned to the pedestrian.

Even when a driver flees and is never identified, a claim may still be available through the victim's own uninsured motorist coverage.

Traffic camera footage and 911 call recordings connected to a hit-and-run are often held for a limited time before they are overwritten or purged, so preserving them early matters.

Under California law, wrongful death claims must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP § 377.60). For this crash, that deadline is July 23, 2028.

Contact Our Los Angeles Wrongful Death Attorneys

Losing someone to a driver who never stopped, followed by a second collision, is the kind of loss that comes with anger as much as grief. Families in this position deserve answers about both drivers, not just the one who stayed.

The Los Angeles wrongful death attorneys at Christian Contreras Law have recovered more than $200 million for clients and take a hard line on cases where a driver tries to disappear after a crash.

Surveillance footage from nearby businesses and rideshare or delivery records that could identify the first driver do not stay available forever, so the sooner that evidence is requested, the better the odds of preserving it.

There is no upfront cost to speak with our office, and we do not get paid unless we recover for your family.

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Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.