National Boulevard and Wesley Avenue: A Driver Runs a Red Light, Strikes a Pedestrian in the Crosswalk and Keeps Going
CULVER CITY, CALIFORNIA (September 30, 2026): A pedestrian was critically injured in a Culver City hit-and-run at National Boulevard and Wesley Avenue at about 7:04 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, and a 29-year-old Los Angeles man has since been arrested, according to the Culver City Police Department. Officers and firefighters found the man in the roadway with significant injuries, and paramedics took him to a hospital, where he remains in critical condition with severe injuries, police said in a statement published October 22 by the Culver City Observer. KTLA and WestsideToday reported the same account.
Witnesses told investigators that an early-2000s Toyota Sequoia, tan or gray, was traveling south on National Boulevard in the number two lane at a high rate of speed, according to the department. As the SUV reached Wesley Avenue, police said, the driver ran a solid red light at about 50 mph and struck the pedestrian, who was in the crosswalk. The driver continued south on National Boulevard, turned west on Schaefer Street and drove out of sight without stopping to help.
Investigators used automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras to identify the SUV and then its driver, police said. Detectives located and arrested the 29-year-old man on Monday, October 19, on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing great bodily injury, and on Wednesday, October 21, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony hit-and-run charge, according to the Culver City Police Department and KTLA. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Anyone with more information can call Sgt. Tropeano at 310-253-6316.
Police have not released the pedestrian’s name or age, and they have not described his injuries beyond calling them severe. Authorities have not said whether the SUV has been recovered, whether anyone else was inside it, or whether any traffic or business cameras recorded the moment of impact. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for a Culver City Hit-and-Run
California Vehicle Code § 20001 requires the driver of a vehicle involved in a crash that injures or kills another person to stop immediately at the scene and give identifying information. Vehicle Code § 21453 generally requires a driver facing a steady red signal to stop and remain stopped until a signal allows the driver to proceed, and Vehicle Code § 21950 requires drivers to yield to a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Under Civil Code § 1714, everyone is generally responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care.
- The red light: Witnesses told police the SUV ran a solid red light at about 50 mph. In a civil case, signal timing, witness statements and any video can help show whether a driver had a duty to stop under § 21453.
- The crosswalk: Police said the pedestrian was in the crosswalk. Section 21950 generally requires drivers to yield to pedestrians there, while also saying pedestrians must use due care for their own safety.
- Leaving the scene: The felony charge under § 20001 is a criminal case brought by prosecutors. It is separate from any civil claim by the injured person, which uses a different standard of proof.
- The vehicle and insurance: Investigators traced the SUV through license plate readers. In a civil claim, who owned the vehicle and what insurance applies, including the injured person’s own coverage, are often reviewed.
These are general principles of California law, not conclusions about this crash, which remains under investigation and in criminal court.
Steps to Take After a Culver City Hit-and-Run
Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable people on the road. In 2024, 7,080 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 were injured in traffic crashes nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). After a hit-and-run, these steps can help an injured person and their family:
- Get medical care first: Call 911 and accept care at the scene. Keep every hospital record, imaging report and bill.
- Report what you saw: Give police the vehicle description, color, direction of travel and any partial plate as soon as possible. In this case, witness descriptions helped investigators find the SUV.
- Ask for video to be saved: Businesses, homes and buses along National Boulevard may have cameras that record over footage, so ask that it be saved as soon as possible.
- Keep a record: Write down the report number, the names of officers and witnesses, and every call with investigators or insurers.
Legal deadlines and notice requirements apply after a crash, injury or death, and they vary with the facts of each case, the location and the parties involved, including any public agency. Contact an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Investigating the National Boulevard Hit-and-Run
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, wish the injured man a full recovery and send our support to his family. Two questions remain open: was the Toyota Sequoia recovered and examined for damage that matches the crash, and did traffic signal or business cameras at National Boulevard and Wesley Avenue record the light and the moment of impact?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, truck or pedestrian accident anywhere in California, our personal injury attorneys can help you understand your rights and legal options. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.
Published on October 22, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 30, 2026.
