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CUPERTINO, Santa Clara County, Calif., Sept. 23, 2026 — Three vehicles collided Tuesday evening, September 22, on southbound State Route 85 just north of the De Anza Boulevard offramp in Cupertino, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash involved a car and two SUVs and left at least one lane blocked during the evening commute.
The California Highway Patrol's initial dispatch log described injuries reported at the scene, and an ambulance was requested. A caller reported one of the vehicles, described as a blue SUV, had come to a stop in a position blocking traffic and could not be driven, according to the log. Another entry noted a red sedan and a dark-colored SUV also involved.
Responders classified the crash as a three-vehicle collision with minor injuries, the log shows. Freeway Service Patrol units were sent to help manage the scene, and tow trucks were called for at least two of the vehicles, both reported not drivable. Crews cleared the incident by around 7:19 p.m., according to dispatch records.
Authorities continue reviewing the collision. We hope those who were hurt recover fully.
Where Multi-Vehicle Pileups Tend to Cluster on Freeways
Chain-reaction crashes involving three or more vehicles tend to concentrate in predictable spots on freeways: merge points, offramps, and stretches just before or after an interchange where traffic slows unevenly. Drivers approaching an exit often brake harder and later than the vehicles around them expect, and that gap in reaction time is where a second or third impact happens.
Offramp approaches carry an added risk because traffic in the exit lane is decelerating while through-lanes stay at freeway speed. A single hard stop near that boundary can trigger a rear-end collision that spreads sideways into adjacent lanes before anyone downstream has time to react.
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. Mixed-vehicle traffic, cars sharing lanes with SUVs and trucks of different heights and weights, is common on exactly these kinds of congested exit approaches, where a pileup can pull in vehicles of very different sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are secondary crashes common after an initial wreck?
Yes. A first collision often blocks a lane or slows traffic suddenly, and following drivers who don't react in time can strike the stopped vehicles or each other, adding to the original crash.
What makes multi-vehicle crashes hard to investigate?
Investigators have to determine the order of impacts, not just the final resting positions of the vehicles. Multiple drivers, witnesses, and points of contact can make it take longer to establish exactly how the collision unfolded.
Why do chain-reaction crashes happen?
They typically start with one vehicle braking or stopping unexpectedly, often near an exit or merge point, and other drivers following too closely or reacting too late to avoid adding to the pileup.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Cupertino, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle crash, move to a safe spot off the traffic lanes if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so. Turn on hazard lights and call 911 to report injuries and get help routed to the scene.
Even if you feel fine, get checked by a medical provider. Adrenaline can mask pain from soft-tissue injuries that show up hours or days later. Exchange information with the other drivers involved, take photos of vehicle positions and damage, and request a copy of the official collision report once it's filed.
