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Apple Valley, CA (July 31, 2026) — Three people were killed, and three others suffered major injuries in a three-vehicle collision at Apple Valley Road and Yucca Loma Road late on Wednesday, July 29.
The crash was reported at approximately 11:42 p.m. Firefighters with the Apple Valley Fire Protection District found several occupants trapped inside the vehicles and carried out extrication operations.
Authorities identified the vehicles as a 2015 Dodge Caravan, a 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan, and a 2019 Toyota Highlander. Five ground ambulances responded for the eight people involved.
Three passengers in the Volkswagen, an adult woman and two juveniles, were pronounced dead at the scene. Two other Volkswagen passengers and the Dodge driver were taken to a local hospital with major injuries. The Toyota driver was evaluated and treated at the scene.
Apple Valley police said their preliminary investigation found that the Dodge entered the intersection against a red traffic signal and struck the Volkswagen broadside. The Volkswagen then collided with the Toyota. The cause of the crash remains under review.
We extend our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died and hope the injured individuals recover fully.
Where the Crash Happened: Apple Valley Rd and Yucca Loma Rd
Apple Valley Road and Yucca Loma Road form a multi-lane intersection used by traffic traveling through the surrounding community. Drivers approaching from several directions must respond to traffic signals while accounting for vehicles traveling straight or turning across the intersection.
At signal-controlled intersections, the paths of cross traffic overlap during different phases. A collision within that shared area can affect several vehicles and leave little room for drivers in adjacent lanes to avoid a secondary impact.
What We Know
- The crash was reported at approximately 11:42 p.m. on Wednesday.
- A Dodge Caravan, Volkswagen Tiguan, and Toyota Highlander were involved.
- Three Volkswagen passengers died at the scene.
- Three other people sustained major injuries.
- The Toyota driver was treated at the scene.
- Multiple occupants required extrication.
- Five ambulances responded for eight patients.
- The intersection remained closed for several hours.
- The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Major Accident Investigation Team responded.
How a Broadside Impact Can Lead to Multiple Collisions
A broadside collision directs force into the side of a vehicle, where there is less space between occupants and the point of impact than at the front or rear. That risk can become greater when the initial impact pushes a vehicle into another lane or vehicle.
At Apple Valley Road and Yucca Loma Road, investigators reported that the Volkswagen was struck from the side before making contact with the Toyota traveling in the adjacent eastbound lane. Damage to all three vehicles will help investigators reconstruct how force from the first impact carried into the secondary collision.
How This Crash Is Investigated
The Major Accident Investigation Team may examine vehicle damage, debris patterns, tire marks, traffic-signal operation, and the final positions of all three vehicles. Those details can help confirm the direction and timing of each movement through the intersection.
Investigators may also review witness statements, available video, and evidence related to the drivers’ actions before impact. Although authorities released preliminary findings, the investigation must be completed before conclusions are reached.
What to Do After a Fatal Collision
Families and other eligible parties affected by a fatal California collision should preserve medical records, photographs, vehicle information, insurance correspondence, and documents related to funeral or other crash-related expenses. The completed report may provide details that were unavailable during the initial response.
Because this crash was investigated by local law enforcement rather than CHP, report requests should be directed to the investigating local agency. California Highway Patrol reports for CHP-investigated crashes are available through the CHP Crash Portal at crashes.chp.ca.gov or through a CHP 190 request submitted by mail or in person. The collision report form is CHP 555, while CHP 190 is the request form.
The CHP online portal fee is $22. Mail and in-person CHP requests cost $10 per 25 pages. A CHP report becomes available after the investigating officer files it, and the portal indicates when it is ready.
Under Vehicle Code § 20012, eligible parties of interest include drivers, passengers, vehicle or property owners, parents or guardians, and legal or insurance representatives. California collision reports are not public records and remain restricted to eligible parties, with no fixed public-release window.
Local Accident Reports compiles incident information from official agencies and credible local sources. Details from initial reports may be updated as official investigations conclude. If you have direct knowledge that any information here is inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and correct the record.
