Ana Amaral Moreira Killed in Manhattan Beach Car Accident
The fatal collision occurred when a black SUV crashed into Suds & Duds Coin-Op Laundry on Aviation Boulevard
Ana Amaral Moreira, 61, was killed in a car accident when an SUV crashed into a laundromat on Aviation Boulevard near 10th Street in Manhattan Beach, California, on Tuesday, according to the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
The black SUV accelerated instead of braking, shattering the glass storefront and damaging a support beam before coming to a stop inside the business.
Moreira was doing her laundry inside the building at the time of the collision and suffered fatal injuries.
The driver of the vehicle was uninjured and is cooperating with investigators.
No charges have been filed.
Police said alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the crash. the crash remains under investigation.
Why did the SUV accelerate into the Manhattan Beach laundromat?
While the cause of a crash is being investigated, authorities are examining why the driver failed to brake before striking the building. Investigators will look at mechanical components, driver actions, and the vehicle's event data recorder to understand the sequence of events.
National Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "In car accidents involving storefront collisions, investigators must meticulously review vehicle event data recorders, mechanical components, and driver actions to determine how a vehicle breached a pedestrian space."
According to the Storefront Safety Council, vehicles crash into commercial buildings more than 60 times per day nationwide, often due to pedal confusion or a lack of protective barriers.
What safety measures could have protected patrons at Suds & Duds?
Victims like Moreira are killed in traffic collisions across our country, and it is often not their fault. When a vehicle enters a commercial building, the absence of structural safeguards like bollards can turn a driver's mistake into a fatal event for innocent bystanders inside.
National Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Counsel at Bond Legal, noted that "Commercial property owners have a duty to ensure the safety of their patrons, which in storefront car accidents often raises questions about the adequacy of exterior barriers and parking lot design."
The investigation will likely assess whether the property owner implemented adequate safety measures to prevent vehicles from breaching the storefront.
California wrongful death statute
Under California's wrongful death statute (CCP § 377.60), surviving family members may pursue a civil claim when a loved one is killed due to the negligence of another party or a property owner's failure to maintain safe premises. This legal framework allows families to seek accountability outside of the criminal justice system, establishing liability based on a preponderance of the evidence. National Legal Analyst Bond of Bond Legal noted that "In fatal car accidents, a wrongful death claim provides a vital mechanism for grieving families to recover funeral expenses, loss of income, and loss of companionship while holding negligent drivers and property owners accountable."
Families typically have two years from the date of the victim's death to file a wrongful death lawsuit in California. Because liability in storefront crashes can involve both the at-fault driver's auto insurance and the business's commercial premises liability coverage, early preservation of evidence and structural assessments are critical to building a full claim.