Yolanda Hernandez Killed in Long Beach Hit-and-Run Pedestrian Accident

Yolanda Hernandez Was Crossing Baltic Avenue on Her Evening Walk When a Turning Pickup Struck Her and Drove Away

LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (October 29, 2026) – A 76-year-old grandmother identified as Yolanda Hernandez was killed in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident at Baltic Avenue and Burnett Street in Long Beach.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the crash occurred around 7:20 p.m. on Friday, September 25. Yolanda Hernandez was out for an evening walk and crossing in the crosswalk on Baltic Avenue when a southbound white pickup truck turning onto Burnett Street struck her, according to Long Beach police.

The driver continued east on Burnett Street without stopping, police said. Her granddaughter told the Long Beach Post that a man stepped out of the truck, looked at Hernandez on the ground, and then left.

Bystanders stayed with her and prayed with her until first responders arrived. Yolanda Hernandez was taken to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

Police have declined to release details about the truck, citing the ongoing investigation. Family members have spent days knocking on doors and sharing tips online in hopes of finding the driver.

Known to her family as “Mama Yola,” Hernandez had survived a brain tumor and was battling cancer, yet she stayed active. She was taking English classes and spent hours in the kitchen each holiday season making tamales for her loved ones.

The crash was the 37th fatal traffic collision in Long Beach this year, according to the Long Beach Post, and the city recorded 53 fatal collisions in 2025, the most in more than a decade. The Post also reported that the intersection had no painted crosswalk and that the “STOP” lettering on two sides of the roadway was faded.

Those observations differ from the police description of a marked crosswalk, raising questions about what drivers and pedestrians could actually see at the corner that night. Residents have urged the city to move faster on dangerous streets, and the condition of this intersection may deserve a closer look.

Liability for Long Beach Pedestrian Accidents

California places a strong duty on drivers to protect people crossing the street. Vehicle Code section 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk and to slow down or take other action needed to keep them safe. Vehicle Code section 20001 requires any driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone to stop immediately and meet legal duties at the scene. Under Government Code section 835, a public entity may also be responsible when a dangerous condition of its property contributes to an injury and the entity created the condition or had notice of it. In crosswalk deaths, responsibility is often examined on several fronts:

• Turning drivers: Drivers making turns must check the crosswalk for people already crossing.
• Due care: Even with the right of way, drivers must slow or stop as needed to protect a pedestrian.
• Duty to stop: A driver who strikes a pedestrian must stop, identify themselves, and provide help.
• Markings: Faded paint and missing crosswalk lines can affect how visible a crossing is to drivers.
• Notice: Prior complaints and crash history can show whether a city knew about a hazard.

California courts have recognized that a dangerous crossing can share responsibility with a negligent driver. In Bonanno v. Central Contra Costa Transit Authority (2003), the California Supreme Court reviewed the case of a woman seriously injured while crossing a busy street in a crosswalk to reach a bus stop, after a car pushed forward by another vehicle struck her. The court upheld a verdict finding the transit agency liable because the bus stop’s location led riders to use a hazardous crossing. It explained that a public entity is not shielded simply because a third party’s negligence also played a role. The decision shows how the design and condition of a crossing can matter alongside a driver’s conduct, though every case depends on its own facts.

Protecting Older Pedestrians

Older adults face some of the greatest danger when crossing the street. In California, 201 adults age 65 and older were killed as pedestrians in 2023, making up 31.1% of all older adults who died in traffic crashes that year, according to UC Berkeley SafeTREC. Nationally, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that about one in four pedestrians killed in 2023 was struck by a driver who fled. Because older pedestrians are more vulnerable to serious injury, a brief lapse by a driver can have devastating results. Several factors deserve close attention at neighborhood intersections:

• Turn conflicts: Drivers focused on oncoming traffic during a turn may miss someone already in the crosswalk.
• Evening light: Dusk and darkness make pedestrians harder to see, especially where street lighting is limited.
• Crossing time: Wide streets and short gaps in traffic leave slower walkers exposed for longer.
• Markings: High-visibility crosswalk paint and clear stop lettering help drivers anticipate people on foot.
• Stopping: A driver who stops after a crash can summon help and give investigators a full account.

Pedestrian safety depends on drivers, road design, and the agencies that maintain crossings all doing their part. When markings fade or known hazards go unaddressed, the risk falls hardest on people who walk every day. Families who lose a loved one have the right to seek accountability from every party whose actions may have contributed. They also deserve transparency about the investigation and any known problems at the location. Lasting change often begins when communities insist on answers.

Investigating Pedestrian Accidents in Long Beach

We at Feher Law extend our heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of Yolanda Hernandez. We hope the driver is found and held accountable, and that the city takes a hard look at the crossing at Baltic Avenue and Burnett Street. Her death raises serious safety concerns about turning drivers and the visibility of neighborhood crosswalks. Were the markings and signage at this corner clear enough to protect someone crossing on foot after dark?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a pedestrian or hit-and-run accident in West Long Beach or elsewhere in Los Angeles County? Families who lose someone in a crosswalk are entitled to a full and honest account of what happened, including whether anyone else shares responsibility. When a city intersection is involved, maintenance logs, complaint records, and repainting schedules typically sit with public agencies rather than the family. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand what happened, from neighborhood camera footage and intersection maintenance records to witness accounts and the condition of the crosswalk markings. If you have questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (310) 340-1112.