A nighttime crossing on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach turned deadly Wednesday when a 39-year-old man was struck and killed by an SUV, according to police. The collision happened around 9:30 p.m. near Maine Avenue, a few blocks east of the Los Angeles River. Medics pronounced the man dead at the scene, and officers said the SUV driver stayed behind and cooperated with investigators.
According to the Long Beach Post, the vehicle was a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer headed eastbound on PCH when it hit the pedestrian, who was crossing outside a marked crosswalk. Authorities have not yet released the victim's name, pending notification of his family. Investigators told reporters they do not believe speed, distracted driving or impairment contributed to the crash.
Why This Stretch of PCH Is Hazardous for People Walking
In central Long Beach, Pacific Coast Highway functions as a fast-moving arterial, with long crosswalks and few mid-block refuges, conditions that can be unforgiving for anyone on foot after dark. The Governors Highway Safety Association reports that more than three-quarters of pedestrian fatalities happen at night and notes that hit-and-runs and crashes involving light trucks remain major contributors. UC Berkeley's SafeTREC has also identified principal arterials like PCH as high-injury corridors where most deadly pedestrian collisions take place.
Long Beach's Safe Streets Push
City officials have been trying to get ahead of crashes like this with the Safe Streets Long Beach initiative, a Vision Zero plan that maps out high-injury corridors and funds projects to improve crossings, bike routes and walking conditions. Progress reports point to upgraded corridors and larger redesigns, including the Studebaker Road transformation under the Elevate ’28 program, as examples of work already underway.
Investigation and How to Help
Collision Investigation detectives are handling the case, and Long Beach police are asking anyone with information or video from the area to come forward. The man killed in the crash has not been publicly identified, and his name is being withheld until relatives can be notified, according to the Long Beach Post. Police say they plan to release additional details as the investigation moves forward.
