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CAMARILLO, Ventura County, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 — A three-vehicle crash blocked lanes on southbound US-101 at the Lewis Road off-ramp Tuesday morning, September 22, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision left at least one person hurt and tied up traffic for an extended period, the agency's incident log shows.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash involved a black Mazda CX-3, a gray Chevrolet Bolt and a red Ford Fiesta. A report to dispatchers indicated the Fiesta was stopped in the lanes before the collision, and the crash was initially logged as a traffic hazard before it was reclassified as a collision with injuries.
Ventura County Fire responded with a full assessment team after a caller reported a fire, and crews spent time evaluating patients at the scene. One vehicle, a red Honda, sustained major front-end damage and was blocking three lanes of the off-ramp, requiring a rotation tow to clear.
It remains unclear how many people were involved beyond the three vehicles named, and the cause of the crash is still under review. We hope everyone who was hurt makes a speedy recovery.
When Multi-Vehicle Pileups Are Most Likely on Freeways Like US-101
Chain-reaction crashes on freeway corridors tend to cluster around the morning and evening commute, when traffic is heaviest and following distances shrink. Ramps and merge points, like an off-ramp where vehicles are slowing or stopping unexpectedly, are common flashpoints because speed differences between vehicles are largest there.
Weather and light play a role too. Fog and glare from a low morning sun can cut visibility on stretches of the 101 corridor, and wet pavement extends stopping distances well past what drivers expect. A single stopped or slow-moving vehicle in a live lane, as dispatch logs often describe, can trigger a pileup within seconds if trailing drivers don't have time to react.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17,008 motor-vehicle crash deaths occurred outside passenger vehicles in crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2023. That figure is a reminder that multi-vehicle crashes on high-speed roads carry risk beyond the vehicles directly involved, including anyone stopped, walking, or working near the scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes multi-vehicle crashes hard for investigators to sort out?
With several vehicles involved, investigators have to reconstruct the order of impacts, figure out which vehicle struck which, and account for varying witness accounts. Damage patterns and vehicle positions after the crash often take time to map out accurately.
What typically causes chain-reaction pileups?
Most start with one vehicle slowing, stopping, or stalling in a travel lane. Following vehicles that are too close, distracted, or unable to see the hazard in time then strike it or each other in sequence.
How can drivers avoid getting caught in one?
Leaving extra following distance, especially near ramps and merge points, gives drivers more time to react to sudden slowdowns. Scanning several vehicles ahead, rather than just the car directly in front, can also provide earlier warning of trouble.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Camarillo, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle crash, try to move to a safe area if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so, and turn on hazard lights to warn oncoming traffic. Call 911 to report the collision and request medical help if anyone is injured, even if injuries seem minor at first.
Get checked by a medical professional after any freeway collision, since some injuries, particularly from sudden stops or secondary impacts, aren't obvious right away. Exchange information with the other drivers involved and take photos of vehicle positions and damage if you're able to safely do so. Filing a report with police or the California Highway Patrol helps establish an official record of what happened.
