In the early morning darkness of Monday, January 19, 2026, tragedy unfolded at one of Los Angeles’ busiest intersections in the Beverly Grove neighborhood. Just after 1:08 a.m., a vehicle traveling northbound on La Cienega Boulevard struck 74-year-old Leopold Trumpet as he was in the roadway at San Vicente Boulevard, an area steps away from the prominent Beverly Center mall and surrounded by upscale shops, restaurants, and residential streets.
Los Angeles Police Department officers responded quickly to the scene, where they found Trumpet gravely injured amid the quiet hours when traffic is typically lighter but still present along these major thoroughfares. Paramedics provided immediate aid and rushed him by ambulance to a nearby hospital in a desperate effort to save his life.
Despite the medical team’s best efforts, Trumpet succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his identity, marking the end of a life cut short in a sudden and heartbreaking manner.
Notably, the driver of the involved vehicle did not flee; they remained at the scene and cooperated fully with arriving authorities, a detail that distinguished this incident from many hit-and-run cases that plague the city’s streets. No information has been released about whether impairment or other factors played a role.
The intersection of La Cienega and San Vicente boulevards is a well-known hub in the Beverly Grove area, often congested with vehicles heading to or from the Beverly Center, nearby offices, and entertainment venues, even in the predawn hours. Its wide lanes and multiple signals make it a focal point for both local residents and visitors navigating central Los Angeles.
As the LAPD’s investigation remains ongoing, few additional details have emerged about the circumstances that placed Trumpet in the roadway or any potential contributing factors. At 74 years old, his death serves as a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by pedestrians in a city where traffic incidents continue to claim lives, leaving a community to reflect on yet another preventable loss in a familiar and vibrant part of town.