A 30-year-old man was killed after being struck by a Los Angeles Police Department patrol car in the Highland Park neighborhood in September.
The victim, identified as Gerardo “Jerry” Estrada, was fatally hit around 7:17 p.m. on September 19, 2025, near Woodside Drive and North Figueroa Street, close to Sycamore Grove Park, where a community carnival was taking place, according to a statement from the LAPD.
Police say Estrada was skateboarding southbound through the center median of Figueroa Street when he was struck by a northbound patrol vehicle that was traveling through the same median. The officer behind the wheel was responding to an emergency call for a suspect with a felony warrant and had both the vehicle’s lights and sirens activated.
According to the LAPD, the officer was maneuvering through the median to get around heavy traffic when the collision occurred.
On November 3, the department released dashcam footage of the incident, which captured the moment of impact and audio of officers reacting in shock immediately afterward.
Following the collision, officers found Estrada pinned beneath a parked car nearby. They quickly attempted to free him and provided emergency aid until paramedics from the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived. Estrada was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled Estrada’s death as resulting from blunt force injuries sustained in the crash.
Estrada, a Santa Monica College graduate, was reportedly heading home from work at the time of the accident.
Police said the responding officer was not believed to be driving at an excessive speed, but investigators are still determining the exact speed of the vehicle.
“Officers are allowed to use center medians when responding to emergency calls,” LAPD Captain Mike Bland said in a statement. “However, even under emergency conditions, they are required to drive with due care and caution.”
Witnesses who were at the nearby carnival told reporters that the impact was so loud they initially thought two cars had collided. Some described the patrol car as “driving fast,” though investigators have not confirmed those claims.
Two days after the incident, friends, family, and community members held a candlelight vigil near the crash site to honor Estrada’s memory.
“He was probably one of the purest and kindest souls I have ever met,” one close friend said at the vigil. “He never asked for anything in return except love.”
Estrada’s loved ones remembered him as compassionate, hardworking, and deeply loved by those who knew him.
The carnival at Sycamore Grove Park was shut down early the night of the crash following news of the tragedy.
The LAPD’s Multi-Disciplinary Collision Investigation Team continues to review footage and other evidence from the scene. The department states that the case will also be referred to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for independent review once the investigation is complete.
