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BELLFLOWER, Los Angeles County, Calif., Sept. 26, 2026 — A wrong-way crash on westbound State Route 91 near Lakewood Boulevard sent at least one person to a hospital early on Saturday morning, September 26. Multiple lanes of the freeway were blocked for hours as crews worked the scene.
The California Highway Patrol said a gray Honda sedan was found facing the wrong way in traffic and collided with another vehicle, reportedly a gray Nissan sedan, on the westbound side of the 91 just east of Lakewood Boulevard. The crash was first reported shortly after 4 a.m.
One occupant was reportedly ejected from the Honda in the collision. Radio traffic indicates that person got up and walked to the roadside shoulder afterward. That individual was later transported to a hospital by Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics. No other injuries have been confirmed.
The wreckage blocked as many as three lanes of the westbound freeway, and a separate disabled pickup truck with hazard lights on also blocked a lane nearby. A tow request for at least two vehicles was logged as crews worked to clear the roadway.
The circumstances that put one vehicle traveling against traffic remain under investigation. The California Highway Patrol has not released names, ages, or a possible cause.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
Where Wrong-Way Crashes on Freeways Tend to Cluster
Wrong-way collisions rarely happen at random points along a highway. They concentrate at freeway on-ramps and off-ramps, especially where ramp geometry is confusing at night or where signage is easy to miss after a driver has been drinking, is disoriented, or is following a GPS route incorrectly. Interchanges with closely spaced ramps, or ramps that resemble a normal travel lane, are frequent trouble spots.
Divided highways carry particular risk because once a driver enters going the wrong direction, there is usually no easy way to correct course before meeting oncoming traffic. Stretches with limited lighting, few exits, or long gaps between interchanges give a wrong-way driver more distance and more time to close in on other vehicles before anyone can react.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the annual number of fatal wrong-way crashes on divided highways increased from 278 in 2014 to 520 in 2023. Late-night and early-morning hours, when traffic is lighter and impaired driving is more common, account for a large share of these incidents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time of day are wrong-way crashes most common?
They cluster heavily between midnight and sunrise, when roads are emptier, and the odds of encountering an impaired or fatigued driver rise.
How can drivers avoid a wrong-way collision?
Staying alert on unfamiliar ramps, watching for headlights approaching in your lane, and keeping a safe following distance at night all help create reaction time if something looks wrong.
What should I do if I see a wrong-way driver?
Slow down, move to the right shoulder, and call 911 with your location and direction of travel so authorities can respond and warn other drivers.
How do highways try to prevent wrong-way entries?
Agencies use lowered wrong-way signs, reflective pavement arrows, and in some locations detection systems that alert traffic operators when a vehicle enters against the flow.
What to Do After a Wrong-Way Crash in Bellflower, CA
If you're involved in or witness a wrong-way crash, move to a safe area away from active lanes if you're able to and call 911 right away. Even if you feel fine, get checked by a medical professional, since injuries from a high-speed impact aren't always obvious right away. Take photos of the scene if it's safe to do so, and get contact information from anyone who saw what happened. Cooperate with responding officers and file any required reports, and keep copies of medical records and repair estimates for your own records going forward.
