SUV Driver Kills Woman in Manhattan Beach Laundromat Crash

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA – A woman is dead after a Mercedes-Benz SUV jumped a curb and crashed through the glass front of a Manhattan Beach laundromat Tuesday evening, killing her inside the building.

Manhattan Beach police officers responded around 8:05 p.m. to the Suds & Duds Laundromat at 975 N. Aviation Blvd. Authorities said the driver had driven onto the sidewalk and smashed through a portion of the building that featured several panels of floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Witnesses say the SUV suddenly jumped the curb before slamming into the front of the business. According to those witnesses, the woman who was killed was inside the laundromat at the time of the crash, though Manhattan Beach police had not confirmed that detail.

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.

Bystander Bryson Garcia, who was nearby when the crash occurred, said he saw a woman pinned between the vehicle and a laundry machine. Garcia said the driver appeared to be an elderly woman and recalled her telling an officer that her foot had become caught on the pedal.

Aerial footage from the scene showed the vehicle smashed into the front of the Suds & Duds on the 900 block of Aviation Boulevard near 10th Street. A black tarp was set up in front of the shattered storefront to block the view inside.

Police said alcohol was not believed to be a factor in the crash. The identities of both the victim and the driver were not released, and no information was provided on whether the driver was taken into custody.

The investigation remained active as of Wednesday morning.

Liability in the Manhattan Beach Laundromat Crash

Crashes of this type raise layered questions of legal responsibility that extend beyond the driver alone.

Under California law, a driver who leaves the roadway and strikes a person — whether on a sidewalk or inside a commercial building — may be found negligent for breaching the standard of reasonable care owed to others. California’s pure comparative negligence system means that a victim can still recover damages even if there is some question of shared fault, with any award reduced proportionally by the victim’s percentage of fault if any is assigned.

Liability in storefront crashes does not automatically rest with the driver alone. Depending on the facts, it may extend to property owners, building owners, property managers, or business operators — particularly where the physical layout of the property contributed to the harm. Whether protective barriers were present, whether prior incidents had occurred at the location, and whether the layout met applicable safety codes all become relevant to establishing who bears responsibility.

California courts assess these cases by examining driver fault, premises liability, and the multiple insurance policies that may apply — including the driver’s auto policy, commercial general liability coverage, and any excess or umbrella policies — to determine how damages are apportioned and how victims are made whole. Scene photographs, surveillance footage, witness statements, and maintenance records each serve distinct functions in establishing foreseeability and causation; together with the police report, they form the evidentiary foundation of a claim.

In crashes involving elderly drivers and potential pedal error, the investigation may also examine whether the vehicle itself performed as expected — raising potential product liability questions if a mechanical defect contributed to the loss of control.

If You or Someone You Love Have Been Injured

Incidents like the one at Suds & Duds are a reminder that serious injury can occur in places people consider routine. The family of the woman killed on Aviation Boulevard will face not only grief, but the challenge of navigating a legal process at a moment when they are least prepared for it.

At J&Y Law, we represent people who have been seriously injured or killed through the negligence of others, including crashes involving vehicles entering buildings, pedestrian strikes, and wrongful death. Our team take cases on contingency — there are no fees unless we recover for you. If you were injured or lost a family member in a crash like this, contact J&Y Law for a free consultation.