Torrance, CA - Yuta Sasagawa, 27, Killed Crossing Madrona Avenue at Garnet Street

Torrance, CA (August 24, 2026) - A pedestrian was struck and killed at the intersection of Madrona Avenue and Garnet Street, south of Del Amo Boulevard, at about 8:40 p.m. on August 24, the Torrance Police Department said.

The Los Angeles County medical examiner's office identified the man as Yuta Sasagawa, 27. Torrance Fire Department personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. The medical examiner's office said on August 26 that he sustained blunt traumatic injuries.

Preliminary findings by the department's Traffic Division and Forensic Investigations Team indicate Sasagawa was crossing Madrona outside of a marked crosswalk. Southbound traffic yielded to let him cross. He was then struck by a vehicle heading northbound, according to police.

The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police determined the driver was not under the influence of alcohol. The Torrance Police Department is continuing to investigate.

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

Fatal Pedestrian Accidents in Torrance, California

Families often read the phrase "outside a marked crosswalk" in a police summary and assume the case is over. In California it is not. That phrase affects how responsibility is divided, not whether a claim exists.

• The rule that actually applies: California uses pure comparative fault, with no 51 percent cutoff. If a pedestrian is assigned a share of responsibility, the family still recovers, reduced by that percentage
• What the law asks of drivers: Vehicle Code section 21954 requires a pedestrian outside a crosswalk to yield, and it also requires drivers to exercise due care and avoid a collision. Both duties exist at the same time
• The stopped-traffic pattern: when one lane yields for a person crossing, that stopped vehicle blocks the view of drivers in the next lane. Speed, sight lines, and whether the northbound driver slowed when the adjacent lane stopped are central questions
• What investigators and attorneys examine: the vehicle's event data recorder, intersection lighting levels, the driver's phone records, skid and impact measurements, and camera footage from nearby businesses along Madrona
• If the intersection itself is at issue: where roadway design, lighting, or a documented crash history becomes part of the claim, California requires a formal government claim within six months of the incident. For an August 24, 2026 crash, that date is February 24, 2027, and missing it usually ends that portion of the claim permanently

Preliminary findings are preliminary. Reconstruction routinely changes the picture once vehicle data and footage are examined.

Wrongful death claims in California must generally be filed within two years of the date of death (CCP 377.60). For this crash, that deadline is August 24, 2028.

Contact Our Torrance Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

A 27-year-old man went to cross a street and did not come home. His family is now reading an official summary that sounds like it puts the blame on him, at the exact moment they are least able to argue with it.

Our Torrance pedestrian accident lawyers handle cases where a preliminary police finding reads badly for the person who died and the physical evidence tells a fuller story. The firm has recovered more than $200 million and takes cases to trial rather than accept a discounted offer.

Intersection lighting readings, the northbound vehicle's speed data, and camera footage from businesses along Madrona are all easiest to secure in the first few weeks. Footage in particular is usually overwritten well before a family is ready to think about a case.

There is no charge to talk with us, and no fee at all unless we win.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
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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.