GRASS VALLEY, Placer County, Calif., Nov. 6, 2026 — A semi truck pulling two dump trailers jackknifed and struck a sedan on southbound State Route 174 on Tuesday afternoon, November 3, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash, reported as a hit and run with injuries, happened near White Oak, about half a mile south of the area.
The CHP said the turquoise semi and its two dump trailers collided with a silver sedan, leaving both vehicles not drivable. Dispatch logs indicate a second vehicle made contact with the semi afterward, though it was not immediately clear how that vehicle was involved in the original crash or fled the scene. The hit-and-run designation suggests at least one party left before officers arrived.
Cal Fire units were called to the scene to assist, and the log notes a transfer of the call to fire crews for a medical or extrication response. The Penn Valley area substation of the Nevada County Sheriff's Office was also notified. The extent of injuries has not been released, though the incident was logged as involving injuries.
The investigation remains open. We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full recovery.
Local Crash Information for Grass Valley, CA
The truck crash was reported on State Route 174 in Grass Valley. For more crash news from the area, see our latest Placer County crash news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do large trucks need so much distance to stop?
Loaded trucks and tractor-trailers weigh many times more than a passenger car, and that extra weight means their brakes need much more distance to bring the vehicle to a stop, especially on grades or curves like those common on mountain highways.
What makes crashes involving large trucks more dangerous than typical car crashes?
The size and weight difference between a truck and a passenger vehicle means occupants of the smaller vehicle usually absorb most of the force in a collision, which commonly leads to more severe injuries than a crash between two cars.
What is an underride crash?
An underride crash happens when a smaller vehicle slides partly or fully beneath a truck's trailer during a collision, usually causing severe damage to the upper part of the car and serious injury to its occupants.
What are a truck's blind spots, and why do they matter?
Large trucks have wide blind spots along both sides, directly behind the trailer, and close to the front of the cab, and drivers of smaller vehicles who linger in those areas may not be visible to the truck driver at all.
