What Happened?
On September 18, 2026, a man in a wheelchair was killed in a hit-and-run collision while crossing Pacific Coast Highway at East Seventh Street in Long Beach, according to a MyNewsLA report citing the Long Beach Police Department. If you or a loved one was affected by a serious California roadway collision, contact DC Law Group for a confidential consultation. Call (310) 571-8860
The preliminary account said a white BMW sedan traveling south on Pacific Coast Highway struck the man as he traveled east across the roadway in a marked crosswalk. Responding officers performed CPR until Long Beach Fire Department personnel arrived and continued life-saving efforts. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
The BMW initially stopped, then left without the driver providing aid, according to a police statement quoted in the report. Officers located the vehicle and its driver, identified as 23-year-old Ethan Chung of Irvine, about five blocks away near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway. Chung was booked into the Long Beach City Jail on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter.
The available report described the incident as an ongoing investigation. It said speed, distracted driving, and impaired driving did not appear to be factors based on the information available at that time. Those preliminary statements are not a final accident reconstruction or a legal determination about responsibility.
What Police Reported About the Collision
The initial news account and police statement described these reported details:
- The collision occurred Friday, September 18, 2026, in Long Beach.
- The reported location was Pacific Coast Highway at East Seventh Street.
- The pedestrian was using a wheelchair and was crossing eastbound in a marked crosswalk.
- A white BMW sedan was traveling south on Pacific Coast Highway.
- The BMW struck the pedestrian, stopped, and then left the scene without rendering aid, according to police.
- Officers found the BMW and its driver near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway, about five blocks from the collision location.
- The driver was identified as 23-year-old Ethan Chung of Irvine.
- The victim died at the scene despite CPR and other life-saving efforts.
- Police said the investigation remained ongoing.
The report did not identify the victim by name. It also did not provide a final explanation of the driver's actions, the traffic signal phase, visibility, vehicle speed, or every circumstance surrounding the crosswalk movement. Those details may be addressed through witness interviews, video, physical evidence, vehicle inspection, and the official collision investigation.
Why Hit-and-Run Evidence Matters
A collision involving a pedestrian or wheelchair user can produce several types of evidence. Investigators may review nearby business or traffic-camera video, 911 calls, photographs from the scene, vehicle damage, roadway markings, lighting, sight lines, witness accounts, and the time between the impact and the vehicle's later recovery. Preserving original files with their metadata can help maintain a reliable record.
A driver leaving after a collision can create separate criminal and civil questions. An arrest or booking is not a finding that every allegation has been proved, and a preliminary news account does not establish negligence. Civil claims are evaluated using the available evidence, the applicable California law, and the individual facts of the incident.
What Families Should Preserve After a Fatal Pedestrian Crash
Family members should preserve official notices, coroner or medical examiner communications, photographs, videos, witness information, insurance correspondence, and records of contact with investigating agencies. They should keep digital files in their original form and create a written timeline of when they received information or spoke with officials.
It can also help to record the location, crosswalk configuration, nearby businesses, traffic controls, and any known surveillance sources before conditions change. Families should avoid guessing about fault in public statements while the investigation is active. A California attorney can review the known facts, explain potential claim issues, and identify records that may be important.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the fatal hit-and-run happen?
The reported collision occurred on Pacific Coast Highway at East Seventh Street in Long Beach. Police said the pedestrian was crossing eastbound in a marked crosswalk.
What vehicle was reported in the collision?
The initial report identified a white BMW sedan traveling south on Pacific Coast Highway. Police later located a 2021 BMW near Second Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
Was an arrest reported?
Yes. The report said officers located and arrested 23-year-old Ethan Chung of Irvine. He was booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter. An arrest is not a final determination of criminal or civil responsibility.
What did the preliminary report say about the victim?
The report said the victim was a man in a wheelchair who was crossing in a marked crosswalk. CPR and other life-saving efforts were attempted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The available account did not identify him by name.
What should a witness do after a serious collision?
A witness should call 911 when emergency assistance is needed, follow responder instructions, preserve original photographs or video, and provide an accurate account to investigators. Witnesses should avoid speculating about fault or altering digital evidence.
What should a family do after a fatal roadway collision?
A family should preserve official records, photographs, video, vehicle information, insurance documents, and communications connected to the incident. A California personal-injury attorney can help the family understand what information may be relevant and which legal deadlines may apply.
Summary
A man in a wheelchair died after a white BMW struck him while he was crossing Pacific Coast Highway at East Seventh Street in Long Beach on September 18, 2026, according to the preliminary report. Police said the BMW left the scene and was later located nearby, and an arrest was made. The investigation remained ongoing, so the available account should not be treated as a final finding about fault or legal responsibility.
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