Laundromat Patron Killed in Freak Parking Lot Accident in East Manhattan Beach
Jun 10, 2026 08:38AM ● By Mb News Staff
Just one day after Manhattan Beach avoided a rush-hour tragedy in a violent car crash on Sepulveda Blvd., a woman died Tuesday while patronizing a coin-op laundry in East Manhattan Beach.
According to local TV news reporters, who discussed the accident with local residents, and photos taken on-site by MB News, a late-model Mercedes SUV crashed through the glass walls of "Suds & Duds," a coin-op laundry, at Aviation Blvd. and 10th Street during rush hour on Tuesday, just after 6pm.
The orientation of the vehicle suggested that it had been maneuvering within the small parking lot shared by three businesses in the modest strip mall: a liquor store, pizza shop and the laundromat. The strip mall runs parallel to southbound lanes of Aviation Blvd., while the front of the vehicle was pointed north in photos from the scene.
A witness, Ellie Chambers, told CBS that the SUV "was trying to exit the parking lot, but it kinda stopped and it was slanted. And then it like paused for a moment and then it just slammed right into the building at a high speed."
CBS was first to suggest that the accident may have been the result of a driver's confusion between the brake and gas pedal – similar to an elderly driver's confusion in 2003 in Santa Monica, which led to the deaths of 10 people at the city's iconic farmer's market.
A later report by KTLA quoted a man who said he saw police talking to an elderly woman, who appeared to have been the driver, who was explaining that "her foot got caught on the pedal." The LA Times reported that the driver was uninjured, citing police sources.
Official alerts noted a "traffic advisory" for Aviation Blvd. southbound and Manhattan Beach Blvd., which lasted about 90 minutes for the initial investigation. Traffic was either closed or severely impacted throughout the period. Police kept the strip mall closed for investigation for much of the evening.
By morning, support beams had been installed under the roof of the strip mall at the spot where the accident occurred.
According to local TV news reporters, who discussed the accident with local residents, and photos taken on-site by MB News, a late-model Mercedes SUV crashed through the glass walls of "Suds & Duds," a coin-op laundry, at Aviation Blvd. and 10th Street during rush hour on Tuesday, just after 6pm.
A witness, Ellie Chambers, told CBS that the SUV "was trying to exit the parking lot, but it kinda stopped and it was slanted. And then it like paused for a moment and then it just slammed right into the building at a high speed."
A later report by KTLA quoted a man who said he saw police talking to an elderly woman, who appeared to have been the driver, who was explaining that "her foot got caught on the pedal." The LA Times reported that the driver was uninjured, citing police sources.
While onsite, MB News observed what appeared to be a body bag containing a casualty of the accident.
This story will be updated as MBPD or other official sources release information.
This story will be updated as MBPD or other official sources release information.
Aviation and MB Blvd. Impacted; Building Reinforced After Accident
Just 24 hours after the busy intersection of 8th/Sepulveda had been shut down due to an accident, the rush hour on Tuesday was hit with a different kind of closure after the parking-lot incident.Official alerts noted a "traffic advisory" for Aviation Blvd. southbound and Manhattan Beach Blvd., which lasted about 90 minutes for the initial investigation. Traffic was either closed or severely impacted throughout the period. Police kept the strip mall closed for investigation for much of the evening.
By morning, support beams had been installed under the roof of the strip mall at the spot where the accident occurred.
