Available 
GLENDALE, Los Angeles County, Calif., Oct. 1, 2026 — A multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck shut down lanes on eastbound I-210 at the Ocean View Boulevard offramp on Tuesday morning, September 29. At least one person was reported injured.
The California Highway Patrol said initial reports described a car colliding with a semi-truck in the freeway lanes, with airbags deployed and debris scattered across the roadway. A separate or related report described a small SUV striking the center divider before also hitting a truck, and another update said a car had blocked the third and fourth lanes while its driver was possibly experiencing a seizure, the report said.
Units requested an ambulance for a possible injury, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department was sent to the scene. The California Highway Patrol said a Sig Alert was issued for the eastbound lanes, with an estimated duration of about one hour. At one point, three of the four lanes were blocked, though the fourth lane remained open.
Tow operators were requested to clear the scene, and the California Highway Patrol said a rotation tow company responded with an estimated arrival time of about 25 minutes. The crash remains under investigation, and further details on the cause and the extent of injuries had not been released as of this writing.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Why Truck Crashes on the Freeway Do So Much Damage
A collision between a passenger car and a semi-truck is lopsided before impact even happens. A loaded semi can weigh 20 to 30 times what a sedan or small SUV weighs, so in a crash the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the change in speed. The truck's frame and cab are built to carry that weight down the road, not to cushion a car on impact.
How a truck is loaded matters just as much as how much it weighs. Cargo that is stacked unevenly or not secured can shift the trailer's center of gravity, making the truck harder to control during sudden braking or a lane change, and changing how the trailer behaves if a collision starts to develop. A weight shift can also affect how far the truck travels before it fully stops once the brakes are applied.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 70 percent of people killed in large-truck crashes were occupants of other vehicles in 2023. Seatbelts and airbags in passenger cars are designed around car-to-car crash forces, and they perform differently when the other vehicle is many times heavier.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can drivers share the road with trucks safely?
Give large trucks extra space, especially near their rear and side blind spots, and avoid lingering alongside a trailer. Trucks need more room to change lanes or slow down than a passenger car does.
Does driver fatigue play a role in truck crashes?
Fatigue is a recognized factor in commercial truck crashes industry-wide. Federal rules limit how many hours a commercial driver can be on duty, but long hauls and irregular schedules still contribute to drowsy driving.
What should I do after a crash involving a commercial truck?
Move to a safe location if possible, call 911, and seek medical evaluation even if you feel fine, since some injuries aren't immediately obvious. Document the scene with photos if it's safe to do so and get the names of any responding agencies.
Why do trucks need so much room to stop?
A fully loaded semi can take the length of a football field or more to stop at highway speed, far more than a car. Weight, trailer load, and brake condition all affect that distance.
What to Do After a Semi-Truck Crash in Glendale, CA
If you're involved in or witness a crash like this one, call 911 right away and stay clear of moving lanes if you can. Even minor-feeling impacts can cause injuries that show up hours or days later, so a medical check is worth doing promptly.
Keep a copy of any CHP incident report number and note which agencies responded, since that information can matter later for insurance or medical follow-up. If you were a passenger or a bystander, write down what you saw while it's fresh, including the time and the lanes affected.
