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CONCORD, Contra Costa County, Calif., Oct. 12, 2026 — A car became lodged under the trailer of a big rig early on Sunday morning, October 11, in a crash on southbound State Route 242 near Clayton Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The collision was reported shortly before 3 a.m. near the Willow Pass Road area of southbound Route 242. A black Honda and a big rig were involved, and the car ended up pinned beneath the truck's trailer. The crash blocked multiple lanes of the freeway.
A person believed to be the Honda's driver was reported conscious and talking after the crash, according to the big rig driver's account relayed to dispatchers. The CHP listed the injury as minor. Contra Costa County Fire responded to the scene along with CHP units.
A tow company was called to remove the vehicles given what was described as major front-end damage to the Honda. The CHP closed its incident on the crash before 4 a.m. No further details on citations or contributing factors have been released, and the cause remains under investigation.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
What the Numbers Show About Car-Versus-Truck Crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2,979 passenger-car occupants were killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger car and a light truck in 2023. That figure reflects a basic mismatch in size and weight: when a car and a larger vehicle collide, the car's occupants absorb most of the impact.
The imbalance grows when the larger vehicle is a commercial truck or big rig rather than a light truck or SUV. Height differences mean a car can end up partially under a trailer, as happened in Concord, rather than meeting the truck's bumper head-on. That kind of underride contact can trap a vehicle and complicate extrication even when occupants survive the initial impact.
Early morning hours carry their own risk factor. Visibility is lower, traffic volume is reduced, and commercial trucks make up a larger share of vehicles on the road overnight compared to daytime hours, when passenger traffic dominates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do right after a crash involving a car and a large truck?
Call 911, stay in a safe location away from traffic lanes if possible, and avoid moving an injured person unless there's an immediate danger, such as a fire. Wait for paramedics and let CHP or local police document the scene.
What injuries are common in car-versus-truck collisions?
Because of the size and weight gap, car occupants often suffer more serious injuries than truck occupants, including head, chest, and limb trauma. Even "minor injury" classifications on a police log can involve significant medical evaluation.
Where do these crashes tend to happen?
Highway on-ramps, merge points, and multi-lane freeways see a high share of car-truck collisions, often during low-visibility hours or when traffic patterns shift suddenly, such as a vehicle ahead stopping or slowing unexpectedly.
What to Do After a Car Crash Involving a Big Rig in Concord, CA
If you're involved in a crash with a commercial truck, get to a safe spot and call for medical help right away, even if injuries seem minor at first. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries from underride-type impacts aren't immediately obvious.
Get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible and keep records of any treatment. File or confirm a police report with CHP or local authorities, and if you're able, note the names of responding agencies and any witnesses at the scene. Concord residents dealing with the aftermath of a crash like this should also promptly follow up with their insurance company to begin documenting the incident.
