On the evening of Tuesday, July 7, 2026, a pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash. The Gilroy Police Department reports that the accident took place around 10:30 PM at the intersection of 10th and Monterey Streets. The crash occurred in the heart of downtown Gilroy, an area known for its mix of residential blocks, small businesses, and steady foot traffic even late in the evening.
The intersection of 10th and Monterey Streets sits along a corridor that connects downtown to nearby neighborhoods, making it a common route for pedestrians walking after dark. Tuesday night’s collision adds to a string of recent traffic tragedies in the city, following a crash earlier this year near Las Animas Elementary that killed two parents and reignited community concern over pedestrian safety citywide.
Neighbors and local advocates say the latest fatality is likely to renew calls for improved lighting, marked crosswalks, and traffic calming measures along busy corridors like this one, particularly in areas where pedestrians may walk outside designated crossing points after dark.
What Happened at 10th and Monterey Streets
Authorities said officers responded to a report of someone lying in the roadway and arrived to find an adult pedestrian suffering from major injuries consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Officers and paramedics provided life-saving measures, but the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to NBC Bay Area, the victim was a woman believed to be in her mid-to-late 50s. A man who identified himself as a friend of the victim told reporters she had crossed West 10th Street outside of a marked crosswalk while looking for a blanket when she was struck.
The Gilroy Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) took over the investigation. Officers located the suspect vehicle a short time later, though the driver had not been identified at the time of reporting. The identity of the deceased was being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with information about the crash or the driver’s identity to come forward.
California’s Hit-and-Run Laws
California law requires drivers involved in a collision to stop their vehicle, notify law enforcement, and exchange insurance information with others involved. Failure to do so, considered to be a “hit-and-run,” is a misdemeanor in cases of property damage and a felony when someone has been injured. Under California Vehicle Code Section 20001, a driver who flees the scene of an accident resulting in death or serious injury can face felony charges, prison time, and a driver’s license suspension.
Fleeing the scene does not eliminate civil liability. Even when a driver is never identified or criminal charges are never filed, the surviving family may still pursue compensation through a wrongful death claim, and in cases where the at-fault driver cannot be located, uninsured motorist coverage may provide an additional avenue for recovery.
California also imposes a heightened duty of care on drivers toward pedestrians, particularly in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, such as downtown Gilroy. Even where a pedestrian is not in a marked crosswalk, drivers are still required to exercise reasonable caution, remain attentive, and avoid colliding with pedestrians whenever it is possible to do so safely.
How Wrongful Death Settlements Are Calculated in Hit-and-Run Cases
Families pursuing a wrongful death claim after a fatal hit-and-run often want to understand how a potential settlement value is determined. Attorneys typically rely on one of two methods, sometimes combining both, to estimate damages.
The multiplier method takes the total of the family’s documented economic losses, such as funeral and burial costs, medical expenses incurred before death, and lost future income the deceased would have provided, and multiplies that figure by a number typically ranging from 1.5 to 5. The multiplier selected depends on the severity of the loss, the victim’s age and earning potential, and the emotional impact on surviving family members, including loss of companionship, guidance, and support.
The per diem method assigns a specific dollar value to each day the surviving family will live without their loved one’s companionship and support, then multiplies that daily figure by the number of years the victim might reasonably have been expected to live. This approach is often used to quantify non-economic damages, such as loss of consortium and companionship, in a way that feels tangible to a jury or insurance adjuster.
Because a hit-and-run adds the complication of an unidentified driver, families may also need to explore uninsured motorist benefits under their own auto policy or the policies of household family members while investigators continue to work to identify the responsible party.
If Your Family Has Been Affected by a Hit-and-Run
“When someone chooses to drive away after hitting a pedestrian, they take away a family’s chance to get answers, and they delay a grieving family’s ability to hold the responsible party accountable. I’ve spent my career representing families in Gilroy and throughout California who have lost loved ones to reckless and irresponsible drivers, and I know how disorienting and painful this time is. My thoughts are with everyone who knew and loved this woman. If you have any information about this crash, please contact the Gilroy Police Department. And if your family needs guidance on what comes next, we are here to help you understand your rights and pursue the justice your loved one deserves.”- Andy Gillin, GJEL Accident Attorneys
Losing a loved one in a hit-and-run crash brings a uniquely painful uncertainty, especially while the driver remains unidentified. For more than 40 years, GJEL Accident Attorneys has represented families across California in wrongful death and pedestrian accident cases, recovering over $950 million for our clients.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means your family pays nothing unless we win your case. If your family has lost a loved one in a hit-and-run crash in Gilroy or anywhere in California, call us today at +1-866-218-3776 for a free, compassionate consultation, or visit our San Francisco office to learn more about how we can help.
Local Resources for the Gilroy Community
Gilroy Police Department
The department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is leading the ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the crash or the suspect vehicle is urged to come forward.
Address: 7301 Hanna St., Gilroy, CA 95020
Non-Emergency Phone: (408) 846-0350
Website: https://www.cityofgilroy.org/151/Police-Department
Gilroy Police Department – File a Police Report Online
For residents who need to file or follow up on a related report.
Website: https://www.cityofgilroy.org/186/File-a-Police-Report
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office – Victim Services Unit
Victim Advocates can connect families with case updates, court accompaniment, and emotional support, even before a suspect has been identified or charged. Services are free and available regardless of immigration status.
Address: 70 W. Hedding St., West Wing, San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 295-2656
Website: https://da.santaclaracounty.gov/victim-services
California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB)
Provides financial assistance to crime victims and families for funeral, burial, and other out-of-pocket costs related to a fatal crash.
Address: P.O. Box 3036, Sacramento, CA 95812-3036
Website: https://victims.ca.gov
Santa Clara County Superior Court – Family Justice Center Self-Help Center
Offers free guidance for families navigating civil filings, including wrongful death matters, within the Santa Clara County court system.
Address: 201 N. 1st St., San Jose, CA 95113
Phone: (408) 534-5600
Website: https://www.scscourt.org
California Highway Patrol – Report a Collision or Traffic Concern
While this crash falls under Gilroy PD jurisdiction, CHP maintains statewide traffic safety resources and collision reporting tools for California roadways.
Website: https://www.chp.ca.gov
