Hernan Martinez Killed, Vicky Martinez Injured in Hyde Park Hit-and-Run Accident

Hernan Martinez Had Celebrated His 16th Birthday Just Three Days Before a Speeding Driver Struck Him and His Sister in Hyde Park

HYDE PARK, CALIFORNIA (November 6, 2026) – A 16-year-old boy identified as Hernan Martinez was killed and his teenage sister, Vicky Martinez, was injured in a hit-and-run pedestrian accident in Hyde Park.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the crash occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 22. Hernan and Vicky Martinez were walking home with their mother and were crossing 60th Street at 10th Avenue when a speeding blue Nissan Sentra traveling east on 60th Street struck the two teens.

Police said the driver ran a red light before the impact, and security cameras captured the car speeding past at an estimated 80 mph, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. Their mother managed to pull Vicky away from a direct hit, but she was unable to reach Hernan.

The Nissan continued until it crashed into parked cars and became disabled, and witnesses said the female driver and a male passenger fled on foot. Emergency crews were called to the scene, where Hernan Martinez was pronounced dead.

Vicky Martinez was rushed to a hospital in critical condition with a fractured pelvis and later underwent surgery, according to KTLA. Family members described Hernan as a sweet, talented kid who loved baking, sewing, and spending time with his family.

On October 28, Los Angeles police arrested a 28-year-old woman on suspicion of murder in connection with the crash, and investigators are still searching for the passenger. A $100,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the driver’s arrest, and a GoFundMe has been created to support the Martinez family.

Neighbors told reporters that drivers routinely speed through the intersection and ignore traffic controls. After Hernan’s death, volunteers painted a new crosswalk at the site, and a family friend said city council staff planned to begin the process of adding speed bumps.

Those steps raise questions about whether the city had received earlier complaints about speeding on this stretch of 60th Street and why traffic calming was not already in place.

Liability for Hyde Park Hit-and-Run Accidents

California law gives pedestrians strong protection at intersections. Drivers must obey traffic signals and stop signs, yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and travel at a speed that is safe for conditions. Under Vehicle Code section 20001, any driver involved in a crash that injures or kills someone must immediately stop, provide identifying information, and render reasonable assistance to anyone who is hurt. Fleeing an injury crash is a crime and can create separate civil liability. When a pedestrian is struck and the driver flees, responsibility can come from several directions:

• Signal Violations: Running a red light or stop sign is a clear violation of traffic law and strong evidence of negligence.
• Speeding: Driving far above the posted limit sharply reduces reaction time and increases the force of an impact.
• Failure to Aid: A driver who flees instead of helping may be responsible for any harm that a delay in care made worse.
• Vehicle Owners: California law can make a vehicle’s owner responsible when they allowed someone else to drive it.
• Road Design: Public agencies may share responsibility when they ignore known dangerous conditions at an intersection.

California courts have long recognized that fleeing the scene matters in a civil case. In Brooks v. E. J. Willig Truck Transportation Co. (1953), a truck driver felt his wheels run over a man named Brooks on a highway but did not stop to render aid or report the accident. The California Supreme Court held that a driver’s duty to stop and help exists regardless of who caused the collision. The court also recognized that a driver’s failure to stop can be treated as evidence of a consciousness of responsibility for the accident. Later California decisions have relied on Brooks to hold fleeing drivers accountable both for the original impact and for any harm caused by the delay in getting help.

Pedestrian Safety and Hit-and-Run Crashes

Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable people on the road, and hit-and-run drivers make their injuries far more dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 7,522 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2022, the highest number since 1981, and nearly one in four of them were struck by hit-and-run drivers. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that nearly 80% of hit-and-run deaths happen in darkness and that the share of traffic deaths involving hit-and-runs is highest in the largest cities. Pedestrians and communities can take several steps to reduce that risk:

• Visibility: Wearing light or reflective clothing and carrying a light at night helps drivers see pedestrians sooner.
• Crossings: Using marked crosswalks and waiting for a clear path, even with a walk signal, can add a margin of safety.
• Eye Contact: Making eye contact with approaching drivers before stepping into the street helps confirm they are stopping.
• Report Hazards: Residents can report speeding problems and missing crosswalks through the city’s 311 system.
• Save Footage: After any hit-and-run, nearby home and business cameras can be key to identifying the vehicle and driver.

No pedestrian should have to fear crossing the street in their own neighborhood. Safer streets depend on responsible drivers and city leaders who act on known hazards. Families who lose a loved one or see a child seriously injured have the right to pursue accountability from the driver and anyone else whose choices contributed to the crash. Accountability can help prevent the next family from suffering the same loss.

Investigating Hit-and-Run Accidents in Hyde Park

We at Feher Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Hernan Martinez and our wishes for a full recovery to Vicky Martinez. We hope that the people responsible are held accountable and that the city moves quickly to make this intersection safer for everyone who walks there. This crash raises serious safety concerns about speeding and signal violations on residential streets in South Los Angeles. What measures could have kept drivers from speeding through this intersection before a family was torn apart?

Have you or a loved one been affected by a hit-and-run or pedestrian accident in Hyde Park or elsewhere in Los Angeles County? Families who lose someone to a fleeing driver can hold that driver and other responsible parties accountable. When a city street is involved, the agency controls the traffic studies, complaint records, and maintenance files that show what was known about the danger. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand how events unfolded through nearby security footage, traffic signal data, and witness accounts. If you have questions about your rights or need help understanding your next steps, we are here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.