Sherman Way Near Lankershim Boulevard: Man Struck and Killed Before Dawn and the Driver Keeps Going
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 19, 2026): A man in his 30s was killed in a Sherman Way hit-and-run near Lankershim Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley at about 2:20 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The driver did not stop, police said. City News Service, KTLA and NBC Los Angeles reported the crash, citing the LAPD. Police have not publicly identified the man.
According to KTLA, investigators initially said a white vehicle was traveling east on Sherman Way when it struck the man just west of Lankershim Boulevard, and the driver continued east before turning north. In a later report, City News Service, citing the LAPD, described the vehicle as an SUV, possibly a yellow Jeep Wrangler, and said the man was outside a crosswalk when he was struck. NBC Los Angeles, citing police, also described a light-colored SUV, possibly a yellow Jeep Wrangler. The man was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics.
Police have not provided a description of the driver. The LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division is asking anyone who saw the crash, or who was driving east on Sherman Way near Lankershim Boulevard at the time, to call 818-644-8117 or 818-644-8114, City News Service reported. A reward may be available through the city’s hit-and-run reward program.
The LAPD has not said how fast the vehicle was traveling, whether any cameras recorded it or why the man was in the roadway. His name has not yet been confirmed by more than one source, and this article will be updated when it is. These are early accounts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for San Fernando Valley Hit-and-Run Crashes
Under California Vehicle Code § 20001, a driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop, give aid and identify themselves, and leaving the scene of a fatal crash is generally a felony. Vehicle Code § 21954 generally requires pedestrians outside a crosswalk to yield to vehicles, but it also says drivers must still use due care for the safety of any pedestrian on the roadway. When someone is killed, Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 lists the family members who may generally bring a wrongful death claim.
- Leaving the scene: Police said the driver kept going. The duty to stop and help under Vehicle Code § 20001 does not depend on who caused the crash, and failing to stop is a crime in itself.
- Conflicting vehicle descriptions: Early reports described a white vehicle, while later police accounts described a possible yellow Jeep Wrangler. Pinning down the exact vehicle is usually the first step in identifying the driver and any insurance that covered it.
- A pedestrian in the roadway: Police said the man was outside a crosswalk. Even then, California law generally requires drivers to watch for and avoid people in the road, and fault can be shared under comparative negligence.
- If the driver is never found: When a hit-and-run driver is not identified, a family may be able to make a claim under an uninsured motorist policy that covered the victim or a household member, which usually has strict notice rules.
These are general principles of California law, not conclusions about this crash, which remains under investigation by the LAPD.
Steps to Take After a San Fernando Valley Hit-and-Run
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 7,314 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States in 2023, and most of those deaths happened in the dark. After a crash like the one on Sherman Way, families can generally:
- Get the report number: Ask the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division for the report number and the name of the detective handling the case.
- Look for video quickly: Businesses along Sherman Way and Lankershim Boulevard may have cameras that recorded the vehicle, but video is often erased within days.
- Notify insurers early: Tell any auto insurer that may provide uninsured motorist coverage as soon as possible. Many policies require prompt notice in hit-and-run cases.
- Keep records: Save funeral, medical and employment records, and any messages from the police, the medical examiner or insurers.
Wrongful death claims in California are generally subject to the two-year deadline in Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, and uninsured motorist claims can have shorter notice requirements. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.
Investigating the Sherman Way 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 man who died on Sherman Way. Two questions remain open: which description of the vehicle is correct, a white vehicle or a yellow Jeep Wrangler, and did cameras along Sherman Way record it as it left the scene? Earlier this month we also reported on a 71-year-old woman killed in a North Hollywood hit-and-run on Lankershim Boulevard.
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 20, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 19, 2026.
