A 39-year-old woman was fatally struck by a Metro Line 33 bus near the Santa Monica Pier on the afternoon of May 15, 2026. The crash happened around 2 p.m. at Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard as the westbound bus pulled away from a stop. Authorities said the woman was not in a crosswalk and had positioned herself beneath the bus as it left the stop. She died at the scene, and no other injuries or arrests were reported. The collision prompted street closures on Main Street and affected traffic on westbound Ocean Park Boulevard. Santa Monica police are continuing to investigate and are reviewing potential video evidence.
Accident News Report
A 39-year-old woman was struck and killed by a Metro bus near the Santa Monica Pier on Friday afternoon, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
The collision occurred around 2 p.m. on May 15, 2026, near the intersection of Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. Police said a westbound Metro Line 33 bus was pulling away from a bus stop when it hit the pedestrian.
Preliminary information indicated the woman was not in a crosswalk at the time and had positioned herself beneath the bus as it was leaving the stop. She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has not yet been released. No other injuries were reported, and authorities did not announce any arrests.
Santa Monica police officers and firefighters responded to the scene and set up a command post while they conducted their investigation. The crash caused significant traffic disruptions, with Main Street closed between Ocean Park Boulevard and Hollister Avenue. Westbound traffic on Ocean Park Boulevard approaching Main Street was also affected.
The Santa Monica Police Department said the exact cause of the collision remains under investigation, and investigators are reviewing possible video evidence from the area.
Important Details
Around 2 p.m. on May 15, 2026
Intersection of Main Street and Ocean Park Boulevard near the Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California
Pedestrian struck by Metro bus
Westbound Metro Line 33 bus and a female pedestrian
39-year-old woman, pronounced dead at the scene; identity not yet released
Bus was pulling away from a bus stop; preliminary reports say the woman was not in a crosswalk and positioned herself beneath the bus
No other injuries reported and no arrests announced
Santa Monica police and firefighters responded and established a command post
Main Street closed between Ocean Park Boulevard and Hollister Avenue; westbound Ocean Park Boulevard traffic approaching Main Street impacted
Ongoing by Santa Monica Police Department, including review of possible video evidence
What California law says after a bus 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.
Why commercial vehicle cases are different
A collision involving a commercial truck or bus is not simply a larger car collision. Commercial carriers operate under federal and state safety regulations covering driver hours of service, vehicle inspection and maintenance, driver qualification, and cargo securement. A violation of those rules can bear directly on how the collision happened.
These cases also involve records that do not exist in an ordinary collision: electronic logging device data, engine control module data, maintenance and inspection files, driver qualification files, dispatch records, and in many vehicles onboard camera footage. Federal rules require carriers to keep much of this material only for a limited time. Driver vehicle inspection reports must be retained for three months, records of duty status and the supporting documents behind them for six months, and annual inspection reports for fourteen months. The logging device on the truck itself typically holds only the current day and the previous seven days.
Other material that often matters most, including engine control module data, onboard camera video, and raw location data, carries no federal retention period at all and is overwritten on the carrier’s own cycle.
For that reason, requests to preserve evidence are often sent to the carrier and its insurer early. Responsibility may also extend beyond the driver to the motor carrier, a maintenance contractor, or whoever loaded the cargo.
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.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Bus and commercial vehicle accident claims: how liability is established against a commercial carrier
- All practice areas
Injured in This Accident? Get Trusted Legal Guidance
After an accident, the right information can make a meaningful difference. If you or a loved one was hurt, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and determine whether legal action may be available.
Speak with our legal team today and get clear guidance before making important decisions.