Teen on Scooter Dies in Long Beach Hit-and-Run Incident

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Tragic Hit-and-Run in Long Beach Claims Teen’s Life

A 17-year-old boy tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run accident while riding a scooter in Long Beach, California. The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m. on Sunday at the intersection of Orange Street and South Street, as reported by the Long Beach Police Department.

The teenager, whose name has not been released, was struck by a northbound 2012 Cadillac SRX on Orange Avenue. The driver, identified as 35-year-old Karen Mativa from Compton, fled the scene but later crashed into a building at 6100 Orange Avenue. Mativa attempted to escape on foot but returned shortly after and was apprehended by the police.

Emergency responders provided life-saving measures to the victim at the scene before transporting him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver, Mativa, faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence, hit-and-run resulting in death or injury, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and assault with a deadly weapon. Her bail is set at $130,000.

Authorities are investigating speed and impaired driving as potential factors in this tragic event. The Long Beach Police Department urges anyone with information to contact Detective Kevin Johansen at (562) 570-7355. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.LACrimeStoppers.org.

For those affected by similar incidents, the Law Offices of Burg & Brock offer legal support and guidance. Their expertise in handling cases involving vehicular accidents can provide much-needed assistance during such difficult times.

 

What California law says after a car accident

Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California

When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.

A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.

A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.

Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.

Reporting requirements after a California collision

California imposes reporting duties on drivers that are separate from any insurance claim.

A report must be filed with the DMV on form SR-1 within ten days of a collision that caused any injury, any death, or more than one thousand dollars in property damage to any one person. This duty applies regardless of fault, applies even when police responded and wrote their own report, and is not satisfied by notifying an insurance company. With current repair costs, most collisions that involve a body shop meet the damage threshold.

A separate rule covers collisions causing injury or death. The driver must make a written report to the California Highway Patrol, or to the city police department where the collision happened in a city, within twenty four hours. The statute states this duty for every injury or fatal collision. In practice, where officers responded and completed a report at the scene, that report generally satisfies the agency’s need, but a driver who assumes this without confirming it is relying on practice rather than on the text of the law.

Missing the DMV deadline can lead to suspension of driving privileges, an outcome unrelated to who caused the collision.

Information for Families After a Fatal Collision

Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.