A quiet North Long Beach afternoon turned tragic on Saturday when a child under 10 was struck and fatally injured after running into the street at Paramount Boulevard and 56th Street, authorities said.
First responders rushed to the scene and performed life-saving measures before transporting the child to a nearby hospital, where the child was later pronounced dead.
According to MyNewsLA, the crash was reported at about 4:39 p.m. A 2020 Honda Civic traveling south on Paramount Boulevard struck the child after they ran into the roadway. The driver, identified by police as a 27-year-old resident of Paramount, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Officials said they do not believe speed, distracted driving, or impairment played a role.
"Our hearts are with this young child’s family, and everyone affected by this terrible traffic collision," Long Beach Police Chief Wally Hebeish said, as reported by MyNewsLA. He called the crash a sober reminder of how quickly a routine day on city streets can turn catastrophic.
Investigators Seek Witnesses
The Long Beach Police Department’s Collision Investigation detectives are leading the case and are asking the public to help fill in the gaps.
Anyone with video or information is urged to contact the department’s Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355, according to the agency’s public materials. Anonymous tips can be submitted to LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or through LA Crime Stoppers. Police emphasized that the driver remained at the scene and cooperated, while detectives continue to sort through evidence and interview witnesses.
Pedestrian Safety In Context
While the details of this crash are still under investigation, the case unfolds against a broader backdrop of stubborn pedestrian danger across California. Preliminary national numbers show a modest dip in pedestrian deaths in 2024, yet California continues to log some of the highest totals in the country. The Governors Highway Safety Association projects fewer pedestrian fatalities in the first half of 2024 compared with 2023, according to GHSA.
UC Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center, known as SafeTREC, offers localized crash analysis and pushes for a mix of engineering fixes and enforcement strategies to reduce deadly collisions, per SafeTREC.
For now, Long Beach police say the investigation into Saturday’s fatal collision is ongoing. As detectives continue to review evidence, they are again asking neighbors, drivers with dash-camera footage, and anyone who was in the area at the time to speak up. Tips can be shared with the Collision Investigation Detail at (562) 570-7355, or confidentially with LA Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or via LA Crime Stoppers.
