Downtown Los Angeles, California (January 26, 2026) — A late-night pedestrian collision in downtown Los Angeles claimed the life of Curtis Hosea, a 60-year-old man who was struck and killed while crossing Hill Street in a wheelchair, according to the Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner and the Los Angeles Police Department.
Incident Details: The fatal crash occurred around 2:00 a.m. Monday at the intersection of Hill Street and Fifth Street. According to an LAPD spokesman, Hosea was crossing Hill Street when he was struck by a northbound Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but Hosea was pronounced dead there due to the severity of his injuries. Authorities said the driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene following the collision. No arrests were announced, and police did not immediately release information on the vehicle’s speed, the traffic signal status, or whether Hosea was crossing within a marked crosswalk at the time of impact.
Officials stated that Hosea was believed to have been homeless, a detail that underscores the vulnerability of unhoused individuals navigating busy urban roadways, particularly during overnight hours when traffic patterns and driver behavior can change significantly.
Investigation: The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision. In pedestrian crashes involving individuals using wheelchairs, investigators typically focus on right-of-way, signal timing, and whether the pedestrian was lawfully within the roadway when struck.
Investigators will analyze physical evidence, such as damage, debris, and impact point, as well as traffic data, to determine Hosea’s position on Hill Street. Given the 2:00 a.m. collision, they will assess whether poor visibility affected the driver’s ability to see a wheelchair user, noting that wide downtown intersections often lead to high speeds at night. They will also evaluate if the driver maintained a proper lookout and adjusted speed for potential pedestrians, including those with mobility devices. Surveillance footage is key to reconstructing the incident.
Legal Considerations: Pedestrian fatalities involving wheelchair users raise serious legal and safety concerns. Under California law, pedestrians using wheelchairs are afforded the same rights and protections as other pedestrians, and drivers are required to yield and exercise heightened caution, particularly at intersections. From a civil perspective, liability involves assessing whether a driver failed to yield, was inattentive, or didn’t adjust for vulnerable users. Civil liability exists even if a driver stays at the scene and no impairment is alleged, if they failed to exercise reasonable care.
Cases involving unhoused individuals are complex, but legal protections remain the same; housing status doesn’t lessen their right to safe public roadways or a family’s right to seek accountability after a fatal crash. For the loved ones of Curtis Hosea, a wrongful death claim may be pursued to address funeral costs and to ensure that the circumstances of the collision are thoroughly examined, even when the victim lacked traditional family or housing stability.
My deepest condolences go out to all who knew and loved Curtis Hosea during this difficult time.
Source: MyNewsLA