Woodman Avenue Near Bessemer Street: Patrol Car Headed to an Emergency Backup Call Strikes a Pedestrian
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 31, 2026): A 32-year-old woman was struck and killed by a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car on Woodman Avenue near Bessemer Street in the Valley Glen area of Los Angeles at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 2026, according to the LAPD, as reported by the Los Angeles Times and ABC7. The officer was driving to an emergency backup call with lights and siren on, ABC7 reported, citing the LAPD.
The patrol car was headed to a Halloween house party on Weddington Street in Sherman Oaks, where police had received a “shots fired” call just after 10:30 p.m. and found a crowd of about 300 people, ABC7 reported. The party was later cleared and no injuries were reported there. LAPD Lt. Elpidio Orozco told the Los Angeles Times that the patrol car was from the North Hollywood Division and was responding to a call in the Van Nuys Division, that Los Angeles firefighters responded, and that the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. No officers were hurt.
The LAPD’s Multidisciplinary Collision Investigation Team is investigating, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner will release the woman’s name after her family is notified, Orozco said. Some outlets placed the crash in Van Nuys or Valley Village; the LAPD described the location as Woodman Avenue between Bessemer and Erwin streets.
Reports differ on where the woman was crossing. KTLA reported, citing an LAPD spokesperson, that she was outside a marked crosswalk, while NBC Los Angeles reported that she was crossing in a crosswalk. Police have not said how fast the patrol car was traveling or whether its cameras recorded the crash. These are early accounts. Fault is determined by investigators and, in civil cases, by the courts, and initial findings sometimes change.
Liability for a Crash Involving an LAPD Patrol Car
Under California Vehicle Code § 17001, a public entity is generally liable for death or injury caused by an employee’s negligent or wrongful operation of a motor vehicle within the scope of employment. Emergency vehicles responding with lights and siren have certain exemptions from traffic rules, but Vehicle Code § 21056 provides that those exemptions do not relieve the driver of the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of everyone using the road. Vehicle Code § 21950 sets the right-of-way rules for drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks, and Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 allows certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim.
- On duty and in a city vehicle: The LAPD has said the officer was driving a patrol car to an emergency call, which places the crash within the scope of a public employee’s work.
- Due regard for safety: Lights and siren do not end the analysis. Investigators will look at speed, visibility and whether the officer could see the woman in time to stop.
- Where she was crossing: Whether the woman was inside or outside a crosswalk is disputed in early reports and can affect how fault is divided under California law.
- Records from the patrol car: Patrol cars may carry in-car and body-worn cameras and data that show speed and braking. Those records are central to the collision investigation.
These are general principles. How they apply depends on the findings of the collision investigation, the video and the other evidence, and claims against a public agency follow special rules.
Steps to Take After a Crash With a Police Vehicle
Crashes involving police vehicles in Los Angeles are investigated by the LAPD’s own collision investigators, so independent evidence from witnesses and nearby cameras matters. A few practical steps can help a family keep that evidence.
- Talk to witnesses: People who live on Woodman Avenue or were driving nearby may have seen the crash or the moments before it. Write down their names and contact information.
- Look for cameras: Ask nearby homes and businesses near Bessemer and Erwin streets to preserve doorbell and security video as soon as possible.
- Request the reports: The family can ask for the traffic collision report and the medical examiner’s report, with the help of an attorney.
- Be careful with statements: Before giving a recorded statement to the city or any insurer, consider speaking with a lawyer.
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 Woodman Avenue LAPD Crash
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 woman who died. Important questions remain: how fast the patrol car was going when it reached Bessemer Street, and whether its in-car or body-worn cameras show when the officer first saw her.
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 November 2, 2026 by M.M., Carrazco Law, A.P.C. The incident described in this article occurred on October 31, 2026.
