Long Beach, CA — August 20, 2025, a pedestrian was killed in a truck accident at about 8 p.m. at the corner of Oregon Avenue and the Pacific Coast Highway/State Route 1.
Authorities said a semi-truck turned onto Oregon Avenue from the highway, with the back wheels of its trailer rolling over the curb and hitting a man who had been sleeping on the sidewalk.
The man died after being transported to a local hospital, according to authorities. His name has not been made public at this time.
The truck continued driving after hitting the pedestrian, but authorities reportedly did not describe the accident as a hit-and-run crash.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When people hear that someone was run over by a semi-truck, the first thing they tend to ask is: How does something like that even happen? In this case, that question is especially pressing. According to reports, a truck made a turn off the Pacific Coast Highway and its trailer wheels jumped the curb, striking a man who was reportedly sleeping on the sidewalk. He later died from his injuries.
Right away, that raises several unanswered questions. Was the truck making a wide right turn? Was the sidewalk unusually narrow or elevated? Was the driver aware that their trailer had run up onto the curb? And maybe most importantly: Was this a driver error or a consequence of bad route planning or poor training?
At this point, there’s not enough publicly available information to know. But I can say from experience that when a truck’s rear wheels ride up on a curb, that’s not something to shrug off. It’s a sign that something went wrong. It could have been as simple as the driver misjudging the turn or cutting the corner too tight. Or it could point to deeper problems with the trucking company’s route planning or training procedures.
Something else stands out here: Authorities said the truck didn’t stop after the crash but didn’t classify it as a hit-and-run. That seems odd. Either the driver knew they hit something and left the scene, or they didn’t realize it at all. If the driver was unaware, why didn’t they notice their trailer jolting over the curb? Trucks don’t roll over sidewalks without some feedback in the cab. A full investigation should determine whether the driver ignored it, or never felt it because they were distracted.
That’s where technology comes in. Most modern trucks have engine control modules (ECMs) that log speed, braking and steering data. Many also have dash cams and in-cab video systems. Investigators should already be reviewing that footage and pulling cell phone records. Was the driver talking or texting? Were they fatigued? Had they been driving longer than allowed under hours-of-service rules?
Finally, it’s worth asking what the trucking company knew about this driver. Did they have a history of close calls or safety violations? What kind of training did they receive? I’ve handled cases where trucking companies ignored red flags during hiring: drivers with multiple firings, weak road tests, or no recent experience in urban environments. Depending on what the investigation reveals, it’s possible this company set the stage for the crash long before the driver ever turned the wheel.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s not yet clear whether the trucker made a driving error or was following an unsafe route, but a trailer riding onto a sidewalk demands scrutiny.
- Investigators should review dash cam footage, ECM data and the driver’s phone use to determine if distraction or fatigue played a role.
- The fact that the truck didn’t stop raises questions about driver awareness and whether company protocols were followed.
- A deeper investigation should also evaluate the trucking company’s hiring and training practices.
- Holding the right parties accountable means looking beyond the crash scene to the systems and decisions that led up to it.
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