Kristen Lawson Tragically Killed in Pico-Union Pedestrian Accident

LOS ANGELES, CA – Kristen Lawson, a 27-year-old Palmdale woman, was killed and a second pedestrian critically injured early Friday morning after a vehicle struck both of them at an intersection in the Pico-Union neighborhood of Los Angeles, authorities said.

Kristen Lawson of Palmdale and a second unidentified individual were struck at approximately 1:20 a.m. Friday at the intersection of Venice Boulevard and South Oak Street, according to an LAPD spokeswoman who spoke with City News Service. Lawson was pronounced dead at the scene by Los Angeles Fire Department personnel. The second victim was transported to a hospital with critical injuries.

The age and gender of the injured victim were not made available. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with officers, police said.

Separately, NBC Los Angeles reported that authorities said the driver appeared to be under the influence and was taken into custody. City News Service accounts from the same night did not include a DUI allegation or detention. The investigation remains ongoing, and the discrepancy between early reports may reflect different LAPD briefings at different stages of the investigation; this post will be updated as additional information becomes available.

If you or a loved one was injured in this accident, we’d like to speak with you. Our accident attorneys are available for a free and confidential consultation, 24/7.

Kristen Lawson’s Pedestrian Accident in Pico-Union

Lawson’s death comes against a backdrop of persistent pedestrian danger on California roads that, despite some recent improvement, remains far above national norms.

California recorded 1,106 pedestrian fatalities in 2023, the highest of any state. In Los Angeles County alone, 276 pedestrian deaths were recorded that year — the highest of any county in the state. In 2025, 290 people were killed in traffic collisions in the city of Los Angeles, compared with approximately 230 homicides — the third consecutive year that traffic deaths have exceeded homicides in the city.

Los Angeles’s pedestrian fatality rate of approximately 4.36 per 100,000 residents is roughly three times New York City’s and nearly twice Chicago’s — cities with comparable or greater density.

Preliminary data points to gradual improvement statewide. The Governors Highway Safety Association’s 2024 preliminary data projects California pedestrian deaths at approximately 928 — a 15.6 percent drop from 2023, though the figure follows years of alarming increases and remains well above pre-pandemic levels.

Los Angeles adopted Vision Zero in 2015 with a goal of zero traffic deaths by 2025. That deadline passed without the goal being met.

If You Lost Someone in a Pedestrian Crash

Kristen Lawson was only 27 years old. Her family now faces questions that can only be answered through a thorough investigation: whether the driver was impaired, what charges may follow, and whether civil liability attaches under California’s wrongful death statutes.

At J&Y Law, we represent families who have lost loved ones in pedestrian crashes, DUI collisions, and wrongful death cases across California. We handle every case on a contingency basis — no fees unless we recover for you. If you have lost a family member in a crash, or were seriously injured as a pedestrian, we invite you to contact us for a free consultation. Our team can review the facts of the case and explain your legal options under California law.