West Manchester Avenue Near South Broadway: Driver Returns After Striking a Man, Then Leaves Before Police Arrive
SOUTH LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 24, 2026): A 66-year-old man was killed in a South Los Angeles hit-and-run on Saturday, October 24, 2026, after a driver turning out of a gas station on West Manchester Avenue east of South Broadway struck him at about 3:45 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police said the driver came back to the scene after bystanders stopped him, then left again before officers arrived, as reported by City News Service and KTLA.
According to an LAPD statement, the driver of a gray four-door sedan was making a westbound turn from the gas station onto Manchester Avenue when the car hit the pedestrian. The sedan kept going west on Manchester until people nearby flagged the driver down and told him he had struck someone, police said.
The driver then returned to the gas station and stayed there while Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics arrived, according to police. He drove away before LAPD officers got to the scene and did not give his information, as the law requires, the department said. Paramedics took the man to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. His name has been withheld until his family is notified, police said.
Police have not released the make, model or license plate of the sedan, and they have not said whether the gas station or nearby businesses captured the collision on camera. Police said a reward may be available through the City of Los Angeles Hit-and-Run Reward Program. Anyone with information is asked to call the LAPD South Traffic Division at (323) 421-2500, or (877) 527-3247 during weekends and off-hours. Anonymous tips can go to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.
Liability for a South Los Angeles Hit-and-Run
Under California Vehicle Code § 20001, a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills a person must immediately stop at the scene and meet the requirements of Vehicle Code § 20003, which generally include giving his or her name, address, vehicle registration number and the owner’s name to the person struck and to any police officer at the scene, and providing reasonable assistance. Vehicle Code § 21804 generally requires a driver leaving private property, such as a gas station, to yield to traffic on the street, and the Vehicle Code’s definition of traffic includes pedestrians. Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 generally allows certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim when a death is caused by the wrongful act or neglect of another.
- Leaving without giving information: Police said the driver came back and waited for paramedics, but left before officers arrived without providing his information. In a civil case, that conduct can be weighed alongside the underlying negligence claim.
- Turning out of a gas station: The sedan was turning from a gas station onto Manchester Avenue, according to police. A driver entering a street from private property generally must yield until it is reasonably safe to proceed.
- Owner of the sedan: Once the car is identified, the registered owner and the insurance on the vehicle can matter, even if someone else was driving.
- When the driver is not found: If the driver is never identified, uninsured motorist coverage on a family policy may be one of the few sources available, depending on the terms of that policy.
How responsibility is decided will depend on what LAPD investigators learn about the driver, the sedan and the moments before it left the gas station.
Steps to Take After a South Los Angeles Hit-and-Run
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,080 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2024. When the driver leaves, families often have to gather records themselves while police search for the car.
- Ask for the police report: Families can contact the LAPD South Traffic Division for the collision report number and the name of the investigating detective as soon as possible.
- Ask businesses to keep their video: Gas stations and stores along Manchester Avenue and Broadway often record their lots and sidewalks. Ask them to preserve footage before it is recorded over.
- Write down what witnesses saw: Bystanders flagged down the driver, police said. Names, phone numbers and descriptions of the driver and the sedan can help investigators and insurers.
- Review every insurance policy: Check the auto policies in the household for uninsured motorist coverage, and talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement to any insurer.
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 Manchester Avenue Hit-and-Run
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C., a personal injury and civil rights law firm in Irvine, California, extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the 66-year-old man who died. Important questions remain: whether the gas station’s cameras recorded the sedan and its license plate as it turned onto Manchester Avenue, and whether the paramedics or bystanders who spoke with the driver can help police identify him.
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 26, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 24, 2026.
