(Los Angeles, CA) The family of Kristine Poulos, 32, has identified her as the woman killed when an LAPD cruiser struck her on Woodman Avenue.
On October 31, at about 11:30 p.m., the collision occurred in the 6100 block of Woodman Avenue near Bessemer Street in Van Nuys. Poulos was crossing the street when a cruiser from the LAPD’s North Hollywood Division struck her, according to police. The department said the vehicle was responding to an emergency call with its lights and siren activated.
Following the impact, Poulos was pronounced dead at the scene. A witness reported hearing a thud and seeing her down in the street. Investigators had not determined whether rainy conditions contributed to the collision.
A department spokeswoman initially said details about the emergency call were unavailable. The LAPD confirmed to ABC7 that the officer was responding to an emergency backup request at a Halloween party in Sherman Oaks. That response ended in a fatal collision miles from the party.
Poulos’s daughter, Naomi Portillo, organized a GoFundMe titled “Peaceful Burial for Kristine Poulos.” As of November 4, the page listed $3,802 raised toward a $7,500 goal for funeral and burial costs, with remaining funds intended to support Poulos’s daughters. “Right now, we are asking for support so we can give Kristine the peaceful burial she deserves,” Portillo wrote.
Analysis of the Woodman Avenue Accident
California Vehicle Code 21055 permits authorized emergency vehicles to depart from specified traffic rules during qualifying responses. The conditions include displaying a red warning lamp visible from the front and sounding a siren as reasonably necessary. The LAPD’s account identifies both an emergency response and activated warning equipment.
The officer still had a duty to drive with due regard for others under California Vehicle Code 21056. For a pedestrian crossing at night in rain, that duty concerns how the cruiser approached her and whether its operation accounted for the conditions. Emergency status alone provides no finding about whether that duty was met.
How the Family Can Move Forward
For records concerning Poulos’s death after the Woodman Avenue accident, you can use medical examiner case number 2026-17388 when contacting the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner. For support, Portillo’s fundraiser states the family’s requested purpose directly: covering burial expenses and helping Poulos’s daughters. Sharing that named campaign with people who want to help follows the family’s own request.
If you have any concerns about navigating the legal process surrounding this incident, call 866-883-4318 to speak with a lawyer.
