Sepulveda Boulevard at Parthenia Street: a pedestrian was struck by two vehicles and neither driver stopped
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 13, 2026): A pedestrian was killed early Sunday on Sepulveda Boulevard in the North Hills area of the San Fernando Valley, and the drivers of both vehicles left without stopping, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police said the man was crossing Sepulveda Boulevard westbound outside a marked crosswalk south of Parthenia Street at about 5 a.m. when a black SUV and then a silver pickup truck, both southbound, struck him, as reported by MyNewsLA and by Hoodline citing the LAPD. Both vehicles continued without stopping, police said. Hoodline, citing the LAPD, described him as a man in his 40s.
Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene, according to the LAPD. His name has not been released pending notification of his family. An LAPD officer told City News Service that neither vehicle nor either driver had been located as of Sunday afternoon, per MyNewsLA. The Valley Traffic Division is investigating, and police asked the public for help identifying the drivers of a black SUV and a silver pickup traveling southbound on Sepulveda Boulevard at that hour. Anyone with information or video is urged to contact the LAPD.
Liability for Los Angeles County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crashes
California Vehicle Code § 20001 (hit-and-run causing injury or death) makes it a felony for a driver involved in a collision resulting in injury or death to leave the scene without stopping, identifying themselves and rendering reasonable assistance. That duty applies to every driver involved, whatever they believe about fault, and it applied to both vehicles here. California Vehicle Code § 21954 (pedestrians outside crosswalks) requires a pedestrian outside a crosswalk to yield, but expressly preserves the driver’s duty of due care toward any pedestrian on the roadway. California Vehicle Code § 22350 (basic speed law) still governs speed on a dark boulevard at 5 a.m. If a driver is identified, California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 (wrongful death) gives the family standing to sue.
- Two separate drivers: Police said a black SUV struck the man first and a silver pickup next. Each owed an independent duty to stop and each may bear a share of responsibility.
- Visibility and lighting: The collision happened at about 5 a.m. Street lighting, sight distance and roadway design south of Parthenia are examined in pedestrian cases.
- Crossing outside a crosswalk: Under California comparative fault, a pedestrian’s own conduct can reduce a recovery, but it does not cancel a driver’s duty of due care or excuse leaving the scene.
- Vehicle identification: Traffic and bus cameras, business surveillance and vehicle debris left in the roadway most often identify a fleeing driver.
When a driver flees, a family is not left without a remedy. Uninsured motorist coverage on an auto policy in the victim’s household frequently applies to a pedestrian struck by an unidentified hit-and-run driver, subject to notice and proof rules that are often strict and short. If the LAPD identifies one or both drivers, a wrongful death action can proceed against them and their insurers for funeral and burial expenses, lost financial support and the loss of companionship and care. Prompt investigation preserves both paths.
Steps to Take After a Los Angeles County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crash
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian deaths in California remain among the highest in the nation.
- Contact LAPD Valley Traffic Division: Get the report number, ask what vehicle descriptions investigators have, and stay in contact with the assigned detective.
- Canvass for video immediately: Businesses, apartments and buses along Sepulveda Boulevard often overwrite footage within a week. A written request sent early can save the recording that identifies a vehicle.
- Notify the household auto insurer: Uninsured motorist claims for a hit-and-run carry short written notice deadlines, and prompt police reporting is typically a condition of coverage.
- Preserve physical evidence: Debris from a mirror, grille or headlight left at the scene can identify a make and model. Ask investigators to document and retain it.
- Request the autopsy and scene records: The medical examiner’s file and the collision report document the impact sequence and injuries, which matters when two vehicles were involved.
A California wrongful death lawsuit generally must be filed within two years of the date of death under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If the roadway lighting, crossing design or signal placement on Sepulveda Boulevard becomes part of the claim, a government claim must be presented to the responsible public entity within six months under Government Code § 911.2. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating Los Angeles County Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Crashes
We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the victim’s family. Which of the two southbound vehicles caused the fatal injuries, and what does the physical evidence at the scene show about the sequence? What camera footage exists along Sepulveda Boulevard between Parthenia Street and the next major intersection that could identify a black SUV and a silver pickup at 5 a.m.?
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 September 16, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on September 13, 2026.
