Santa Monica, California (October 24, 2025) — Two pedestrians were killed and two others injured Friday night when a driver lost control and crashed onto a sidewalk along Wilshire Boulevard, according to the Santa Monica Police Department. Authorities are now searching for the driver, who fled the scene.
Incident Details: The crash occurred just after 9 p.m. near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Euclid Avenue. Police said an orange Dodge Charger veered off the roadway, mounted the curb, and struck four people walking on the sidewalk before colliding with a tree. Two of the pedestrians — Maura Cohen and Brad Lipshyin, both in their 60s — died at the scene. Their names have not yet been released. Two additional victims were transported to a nearby hospital and are expected to survive.
Witnesses described the crash as sudden and violent. One bystander told CBS Los Angeles that the impact “felt like lightning inside the building,” emphasizing the lack of braking or skidding sounds before the collision. The driver fled the area on foot, and officers are actively working to identify and locate the suspect. Wilshire Boulevard between 14th Street and Euclid Avenue was closed overnight as investigators processed the scene.
Investigation: Santa Monica police say preliminary evidence indicates the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed before losing control. Investigators will review surveillance footage from nearby businesses and traffic cameras to track the suspect’s movements and confirm whether impairment, distraction, or reckless driving contributed. Forensic analysis of the Dodge Charger will also help determine the vehicle’s speed at impact and whether mechanical issues played a role.
The Santa Monica Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office are expected to pursue felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter charges once the driver is identified. Interim Police Chief Darrick Jacob stated that investigators are “working tirelessly to identify and locate the suspect responsible,” while expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
Legal Considerations: Hit-and-run fatalities create criminal and civil consequences for the at-fault driver. Once identified, the suspect could face criminal prosecution as well as civil liability for wrongful death. The families of the two pedestrians killed may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim to seek compensation for funeral costs, loss of financial and emotional support, and punitive damages to hold the driver accountable for fleeing the scene.
The two surviving victims may also have grounds for a pedestrian accident claim to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term rehabilitation costs. Even if the suspect remains unidentified, victims and families may pursue compensation through uninsured motorist coverage or other civil avenues.
I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the two victims who lost their lives and wish the surviving pedestrians a full recovery.
Source: CBS News Los Angeles