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Beaverton, OR (April 11, 2026) – A chain-reaction crash early Friday morning caused major disruptions and closed part of Highway 26 for several hours in Beaverton, Washington County.
The incident occurred just before 1:00 a.m. near the Highway 217 ramp to westbound Highway 26. Emergency personnel responded to reports of an initial crash involving two vehicles.
According to Beaverton Police, after the first collision, both vehicles came to a stop on the roadway. A second crash then occurred when another vehicle traveling along Highway 26 struck the at-fault vehicle from the initial incident.
The driver, believed to have caused the first crash, sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
Officials with Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue confirmed that a second individual was also taken to a hospital with injuries. Emergency crews worked to assist the injured and clear the scene, leading to an extended closure of the highway.
The crash remains under investigation, and additional details may be released as they become available.
We are thinking of those injured and wish them a full recovery.
How Secondary Collisions Happen on High-Speed Roads
Secondary crashes often occur when vehicles are unable to stop in time after an initial incident blocks part of the roadway, creating sudden and unexpected obstacles for approaching drivers.
On highways like Highway 26, higher travel speeds significantly reduce reaction time and increase stopping distances, which can make it more difficult for drivers to avoid a collision once traffic begins to slow or come to a halt.
In many cases, motorists approaching a crash scene may not immediately recognize hazards ahead due to limited visibility, congestion, or distractions, making chain-reaction collisions more likely. These secondary impacts can add to the severity of the situation and complicate emergency response efforts.
