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FONTANA, San Bernardino County, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 — Four vehicles collided late Saturday night, September 26, on Cedar Avenue near Orange Street in Fontana, according to the California Highway Patrol. At least one person was reported hurt, authorities said.
The California Highway Patrol received a call shortly after 11 p.m. reporting a crash involving a Chevrolet sedan, a Chevrolet pickup, a Toyota sedan and a Honda sedan. According to the report logged by dispatchers, the pickup struck the other vehicles involved. A caller stayed on the line as the crash was reported, and dispatch audio reportedly picked up people talking in the background at the scene.
Fontana police units responded and confirmed injuries among the four vehicles, prompting a California Highway Patrol communications center to send additional resources. Both lanes of Cedar Avenue were blocked for a time as crews worked the scene, and the roadway was listed as a hazard before it was cleared. Tow trucks were called for at least two of the vehicles, including the sedan and the pickup, and one vehicle was confirmed towed by early Sunday morning.
The extent of the injuries has not been released. It remains unclear how many people were involved beyond the vehicle count, and no names have been made public. The California Highway Patrol is expected to continue documenting the circumstances of the crash.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
What Determines How Far a Multi-Vehicle Crash Spreads
A pile-up involving several vehicles is less about any single impact and more about a chain of them. Once one vehicle strikes another, the space and time available for the vehicles behind it to react shrinks fast. A driver following too closely, or moving too fast for conditions, has less room to brake or steer around the vehicle ahead once it slows or stops unexpectedly.
The weight and speed of each vehicle involved change what happens on contact. A heavier vehicle, such as a pickup truck, striking a passenger sedan transfers more force into that smaller vehicle's frame than a similarly sized car would. Bumpers and crumple zones are built to absorb some of that energy, but they are engineered around a certain range of speed and weight. Outside that range, the force carries further into the passenger area.
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 reflects how much the outcome of any single crash depends on what kind of vehicle is on the other side of it, not just how fast anyone was going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are multi-vehicle crashes harder to investigate than single-car crashes?
Investigators have to establish the order in which vehicles struck each other, not just that a collision happened. That often means reviewing damage patterns, vehicle positions and witness accounts from multiple drivers who may describe the sequence differently.
What typically causes a chain-reaction crash?
These crashes often start with one vehicle slowing, stopping or losing control, followed by another vehicle that cannot stop in time. Following distance, speed and driver attention all factor into whether a single incident stays contained or pulls in additional vehicles.
Is there anything a driver can do to avoid getting caught in one?
Leaving extra space behind the vehicle ahead and watching traffic several cars up, not just directly in front, gives a driver more time to react if something happens further down the road.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Fontana, CA
If you're involved in a crash with several other vehicles, try to move to a safe spot off the roadway if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so. You should call 911 and let dispatchers know how many vehicles are involved, since that affects how many units respond.
Even if you feel fine, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider afterward. Some injuries from a collision, particularly to the neck or back, don't show symptoms right away. Don't forget to exchange information with the other drivers involved and get a copy of the police report once it's available, since it will document how the incident was classified and responded to.
