The quiet streets of Pacoima, a close-knit community in the northeast San Fernando Valley, were shattered by a devastating hit-and-run on the evening of August 4, 2025. At approximately 8:15 p.m., 76-year-old Gloria Vasquez, a beloved figure known for her gentle spirit and evening strolls with her loyal dog, was struck by a speeding vehicle near the intersection of Osborne Street and Haddon Avenue. In a heartrending twist, her cherished companion also perished in the collision, leaving the community reeling from the loss of two innocent lives.
Gloria Vasquez was crossing Osborne Street, just west of Haddon Avenue, when a white Honda Accord barreled eastward, its driver seemingly oblivious to the elderly woman and her pet in the roadway. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Vasquez was not within a designated crosswalk at the time of the incident, a detail that does little to soften the tragedy of her untimely death. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics rushed to the scene within minutes, their sirens piercing the evening calm, but despite their efforts, Gloria was pronounced dead at the scene. Her dog, gravely injured by the impact, succumbed to its wounds shortly after, compounding the sorrow of an already unthinkable loss.
The driver, identified as 31-year-old Ever Marquez, a Pacoima resident, callously fled the scene without pausing to offer aid or summon help. His actions sparked outrage among neighbors who cherished Gloria as a kind-hearted soul whose evening walks were a familiar and comforting sight. But Marquez’s attempt to evade responsibility was short-lived. LAPD officers from the Foothill Division, already scouring the area for the suspect vehicle, swiftly located the Honda Accord and apprehended Marquez. He now faces charges of felony hit-and-run causing death, with the promise of further legal consequences as the investigation unfolds.
As traffic collision specialists descended upon Osborne Street, the stretch between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Haddon Avenue was sealed off, transforming the bustling thoroughfare into a somber crime scene. Investigators meticulously combed through evidence, piecing together the moments that led to this preventable tragedy. The Los Angeles County Office of Medical Examiner confirmed Gloria Vasquez’s identity, lending an official weight to the grief that had already spread through the community like wildfire.
Gloria Vasquez was more than a name in a police report. To her family, friends, and neighbors, she was a beacon of warmth, a woman whose quiet strength and love for her dog touched countless lives. Her evening walks, often under the soft glow of Pacoima’s streetlights, were a ritual that spoke to her connection with her community and her simple joys. Now, those same streets feel emptier, haunted by the absence of her familiar presence.
The tragedy has ignited a firestorm of calls for change in Pacoima. Residents, shaken by the loss, are demanding enhanced pedestrian safety measures—better lighting, clearer crosswalks, and stricter enforcement to curb reckless driving. “This was a preventable tragedy,” one neighbor lamented, their voice thick with sorrow. “No family should have to endure this kind of heartbreak just because someone chose not to stop.” The sentiment echoes through the community, a collective cry for accountability and a safer future.
As the LAPD’s Valley Traffic Division continues its investigation, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. Detective Ramirez, reachable at 818-644-8025, is leading the charge, while after-hours tips can be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. For those wishing to remain anonymous, L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers offers a lifeline at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Every detail, no matter how small, could bring clarity to this devastating case.
In the wake of this senseless act, Pacoima mourns not just the loss of Gloria Vasquez and her dog, but the erosion of a sense of safety that once defined their neighborhood. Yet, amid the grief, there is a quiet resolve—a determination to honor Gloria’s memory by fighting for a community where such tragedies become a thing of the past. Her warmth, her strength, and her love for her furry companion will not be forgotten, but will instead fuel a movement for change in the heart of the San Fernando Valley.