A two-month-old baby was killed and the child's 20-year-old mother was left in grave condition after a hit-and-run crash in Northridge, Los Angeles, on Wednesday afternoon, and the pickup driver police say caused it is still at large. The Northridge hit-and-run happened at about 3:10 p.m. on November 4, 2026, at Roscoe Boulevard and Louise Avenue, when a white pickup truck made an improper left turn without yielding. The turn forced a white 2025 Toyota Crown travelling eastbound on a green light to swerve into oncoming traffic, where it struck a white 2017 Toyota Prius head-on. The baby later died in hospital.

Key Points

• The crash happened at about 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at Roscoe Boulevard and Louise Avenue in Northridge.
• A white pickup truck made an improper left turn without yielding, forcing an eastbound 2025 Toyota Crown to swerve into oncoming traffic.
• The Crown struck a white 2017 Toyota Prius head-on. All three people in the Prius were severely injured.
• The two-month-old baby later died in hospital. The 20-year-old mother remains in grave condition; the third occupant's condition is undisclosed.
• The LAPD says the pickup driver fled without rendering aid and remains at large. A reward of up to $50,000 is available for information.

What Happened

Roscoe Boulevard and Louise Avenue form a busy crossroads in Northridge, in the north-west San Fernando Valley. At about 3:10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 4, a white pickup truck attempted a left turn at the junction. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the turn was improper: the driver did not yield to oncoming traffic.

A white 2025 Toyota Crown was travelling eastbound on a green light. Faced with the pickup turning across its path, the Crown's driver swerved to avoid it — and into oncoming traffic, where it hit a white 2017 Toyota Prius head-on. All three people in the Prius were severely injured. The two-month-old baby later died in hospital and the 20-year-old mother remains in grave condition; the condition of the third person has not been disclosed, and the victims' names have not been released.

The pickup truck did not stop. Police say its driver left the scene without rendering aid and has not been found. Because the pickup never struck another vehicle, the LAPD calls the case a "non-contact fatal traffic collision" — a crash in which a driver's actions cause a fatal collision without that vehicle making contact with any other car.

Background and Context

Under California law, a driver in a crash that injures or kills someone must stop, give their name, and help anyone hurt. Leaving the scene of an injury crash is a felony, and a driver who causes a death and flees can face serious charges even if their vehicle never touched another car — the principle behind the LAPD's "non-contact" description.

Hit-and-run cases are a persistent problem in Los Angeles. The city runs a Hit-and-Run Reward Program, offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of a driver who flees a fatal or serious-injury crash.

Northridge Hit-and-Run: The Search for the Pickup Driver

Detectives from the LAPD's Valley Traffic Division are reviewing surveillance video from around the intersection and nearby businesses, and asking anyone who was in the area on Wednesday afternoon to come forward. No description of the pickup driver has been released.

Up to $50,000 is available for information that helps identify and arrest the driver. Contact Valley Traffic Division Officer Hansen at 818-644-8255 or Detective Martinez at 818-644-8033; tips can be anonymous, and even a partial licence plate or dashcam clip could matter.

Reactions and Quotes

The LAPD has released only the outline of the case so far, and its most telling phrase is the classification itself: a "non-contact fatal traffic collision". That wording makes clear that investigators hold the pickup driver responsible even though the truck never struck another vehicle. The department has confirmed the driver fled without rendering aid and remains at large. Police have not released the victims' names, no family members have spoken publicly, and the third person's condition has not been disclosed.

Why It Matters

A two-month-old baby is dead, a 20-year-old mother is fighting for her life, and a third person is seriously hurt — all, on the police account, because one driver made an improper turn and drove away. Fleeing compounded the harm: victims were left without help when it mattered most, and investigators must reconstruct the crash from fragments.

It also matters for accountability on Los Angeles roads. A driver who causes a crash and stays can be tested, questioned and charged if the evidence supports it. A driver who flees forces the system to work backwards — from surveillance, witnesses, and a reward. The $50,000 on offer reflects how seriously the city takes that gap, and how much it depends on the public to close it.

What Happens Next

The immediate next step is the search itself. Detectives will keep reviewing surveillance footage from the intersection and surrounding streets, and follow up on tips as they come in. If the pickup is identified, investigators will work to establish who was driving it and whether that person can be charged with felony hit-and-run and related offences.

The condition of the 20-year-old mother will also be closely watched: she remains in grave condition, and any change in her health would be a further development in a case that has already taken one life. Police have not said when they expect to release more information, including a description of the truck or its driver. For now, the appeal to the public is the main line of progress: anyone who saw the white pickup at Roscoe Boulevard and Louise Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, or who has dashcam footage from the area, is asked to contact the Valley Traffic Division. Public tips have helped close other serious cases, including the capture of an escaped Tennessee murderer after a nine-day manhunt and the arrest in a fatal Washington bus-stop shooting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Northridge hit-and-run?

A white pickup truck turned left without yielding at Roscoe Boulevard and Louise Avenue on Wednesday, November 4, forcing an eastbound Toyota Crown to swerve into oncoming traffic and hit a Toyota Prius head-on. A two-month-old baby in the Prius later died; the mother is in grave condition.

Why is it called a "non-contact" fatal collision?

The LAPD uses the term because the pickup truck never struck another vehicle. On the police account, the pickup's improper turn caused the Crown to swerve and crash, so the driver is still held responsible even without physical contact.

Has the pickup driver been found?

No. The driver fled without rendering aid and remains at large; detectives are reviewing surveillance footage.

Is there a reward for information?

Yes — up to $50,000 through the city's Hit-and-Run Reward Program. Call Officer Hansen at 818-644-8255 or Detective Martinez at 818-644-8033.

What are the victims' names?

Police have not released them. The baby was two months old and the mother is 20; the third person's condition has not been disclosed.