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GLENDALE, Los Angeles County, CA, Sept. 23, 2026 — Three or four vehicles collided Tuesday morning, September 22, on westbound State Route 134 near Brand Boulevard in Glendale, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The California Highway Patrol received the first report shortly after 10 a.m. describing multiple vehicles blocking the slow lane. Radio traffic identified a white Toyota SUV and a gray SUV among the vehicles involved, along with at least one other car caught in the collision. Officers on scene later confirmed the crash was on the westbound side of the freeway, correcting an earlier report that had it eastbound.
One caller near the scene stayed on an open line with dispatchers but did not respond to questions, prompting concern from call takers, though the report notes the caller was eventually recontacted. It remains unclear whether that caller was involved in the crash or a bystander. The California Highway Patrol has not released information on injuries beyond noting a Hyundai SUV suffered major front and rear damage, and a tow was requested for that vehicle.
By late morning, all involved vehicles had been moved to the right shoulder, though the report indicates the number four lane remained blocked for a time as crews worked the scene. A separate vehicle unrelated to the original collision was also blocking the number one lane on the shoulder. Fire and rescue personnel who responded had cleared the incident by around 10:23 a.m., according to dispatch logs.
The California Highway Patrol has not released a cause for the crash. The incident remains under investigation.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
What Triggers Multi-Vehicle Pileups on Freeways
Freeway pileups usually start small: one driver brakes hard, the driver behind reacts late, and the chain reaction spreads backward through several lanes before anyone has time to process what is happening. Traffic engineers have found that the biggest lever against this chain reaction isn't driver reflexes, it's spacing and predictability. Metering lights that smooth the rate cars enter a freeway, variable speed-limit signs that slow traffic ahead of a backup, and better lane striping near merge points all give drivers more warning before they hit a wall of brake lights.
Physical road design is important as well: wider shoulders let disabled or crashed vehicles clear the travel lanes faster, which cuts down the odds of a second or third crash on top of the first one. Better lighting and clearer signage near exits, where merging and lane-changing traffic mixes with through traffic, also reduces the sudden, unplanned braking that touches off these pileups in the first place.
However, driver spacing is the most important. A vehicle following too closely simply has no room to stop once the vehicle ahead brakes suddenly, and in dense freeway traffic that gap can be the only thing standing between a single fender-bender and a chain-reaction crash involving several cars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does following distance matter so much on freeways?
The gap between vehicles is really a buffer of reaction time. In slow-moving or dense traffic, a following distance of even two or three seconds can be the difference between stopping safely and rear-ending the car ahead when it brakes without warning.
Do secondary crashes follow the first one?
Yes. Once a crash blocks a lane, following traffic has little time to react, especially if visibility is limited or drivers are distracted. That's part of why crews try to clear vehicles to the shoulder as quickly as possible.
Why are multi-vehicle crashes harder to investigate than two-car wrecks?
Investigators have to sort out the sequence of impacts, since with three or more vehicles it isn't always obvious which collision triggered the others. Damage patterns, witness accounts, and sometimes vehicle data recorders all have to be pieced together.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Glendale, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle crash, try to move to the shoulder or a safe area if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so. Turn on hazard lights and check yourself and passengers for injuries before checking on others nearby. Call 911 even for what seems like minor damage, since some injuries, especially from sudden stops or being thrown forward, aren't obvious right away.
Exchange information with other drivers involved and get contact details for any witnesses, since accounts can vary in a crash with several vehicles. Once you're safe, seek a medical evaluation even if you feel fine. Adrenaline can mask pain, and documentation soon after the crash helps if injuries surface later. Keep a copy of the official collision report once it's available from the California Highway Patrol.
