(L.A.) Oswaldo Sandoval Amaya, 25, Died in Playa del Rey

Case Number: 2026-07141

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 25-year-old Latino male that occurred on a street in Playa del Rey.

The coroner’s office identified the man as Oswaldo Sandoval Amaya.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Blunt-Force Traumatic Injuries

RIP OSWALDO SANDOVAL Y AMAYA ( May 3, 2026)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Sunday morning.

2026-07141   OSVALDO      SANDOVAL AMAYA 25      Street
2026-07139     ROGER     SANDOVAL FARIAS  1    Hospital  

The decedent was riding in a blue BMW 5-Series with three other family members who were heading home after a day at the beach. According to family members, the driver of a white Jeep Cherokee had been flashing his lights and attempting to cut them off. The Jeep subsequently crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic and struck the family’s vehicle head-on.

Amaya’s nephew sustained critical injuries and died later that day at a local hospital.

The driver of the Jeep abandoned his vehicle and fled the scene on foot immediately after the collision. Following investigation by LAPD, 28-year-old Moises Rodriguez Leiva of Canyon Country was arrested on May 6, 2026. At the time of the crash, Leiva had two outstanding DUI warrants.On June 18, 2026, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office officially filed murder charges against Leiva. He has pleaded not guilty and remains held in jail in lieu of a $6 million bail while awaiting his next court appearance scheduled for July 21, 2026, at the Airport Courthouse.
 

GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/support-for-Elba-Sandoval-Family

The government investigator had initially spelled the decedent’s name as Osvaldo.