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LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles County, Calif., Oct. 8, 2026 — A crash involving three vehicles blocked lanes on southbound Interstate 110 near Exposition Boulevard early Wednesday morning, October 7, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision was first reported shortly after midnight and tied up traffic on the freeway for more than an hour.
The California Highway Patrol said a black Toyota Highlander, a red Nissan and a white sedan were involved in the crash, which blocked multiple lanes just north of the Exposition Boulevard offramp. The incident was initially logged as a collision with unknown injuries before being updated to reflect that responders were en route.
Dispatch logs show some of the people involved were out of their vehicles on the freeway shoulder as crews worked to clear the scene. Fire personnel arrived and cleared the area after the vehicles were moved to the shoulder lanes, and all lanes were briefly held before being reopened in stages. Chippers also set up a traffic break near 8th Street to help manage the backup.
The red Nissan reportedly could not be driven away under its own power, with its transmission stuck in park, and had to be towed from the freeway. Multiple tow companies were contacted before one arrived to remove the vehicle, and the roadway was fully reopened once towing was complete.
No information on injuries has been released, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
What Actually Reduces Freeway Merge and Lane-Blocking Crashes
Freeway segments near exit and entrance ramps, like the stretch of I-110 near Exposition Boulevard, see concentrated crash risk because vehicles moving at different speeds are forced into the same lanes within a short distance. Drivers slowing to exit, others accelerating to merge and through traffic holding highway speed all converge in a space that leaves little time to adjust. That mix of speed differentials, not any single driver error, is a major reason crashes cluster at these points.
Engineering changes have measurably cut crashes at these high-conflict zones. Longer acceleration and deceleration lanes give merging drivers more room to match freeway speed before merging. Improved lighting at interchanges helps drivers spot slowed or stopped vehicles sooner, particularly during nighttime hours when a stalled car can go unnoticed until it's close. Variable speed-limit signs and ramp metering, now used on parts of the Los Angeles freeway system, smooth out the speed gap between merging and through traffic.
Driver behavior still matters alongside these fixes. Leaving a longer following distance near ramps and checking mirrors before a lane change both reduce the odds of a last-second collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 6,138,359 police-reported traffic crashes occurred in 2023, a volume that reflects how often these ordinary, everyday maneuvers go wrong on the nation's freeways.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do weather and road conditions affect crash risk?
Wet or slick pavement, poor lighting and glare can all reduce a driver's reaction time and stopping distance. Even on clear nights, reduced visibility near freeway ramps can make it harder to spot slowed or stopped traffic ahead.
What should I do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe location if possible, check for injuries, and call 911. Exchange information with other drivers, and if safe, document the scene with photos before vehicles are moved.
Where do most traffic crashes happen?
A large share of crashes occur at intersections, merges and interchanges, where vehicles traveling at different speeds or directions cross paths in a short span of roadway.
How can drivers lower their chances of a crash on the freeway?
Keeping a safe following distance, signaling early, and matching speed before merging all help reduce the chance of a last-second collision near on-ramps and off-ramps.
What to Do After a Car Crash in Los Angeles, CA
If you're involved in a crash on a Los Angeles freeway, try to move your vehicle to the shoulder if it's drivable and safe to do so. Don't forget to turn on hazard lights and stay inside the vehicle if you're stopped in an active lane, since stepping out near moving traffic carries its own risk. Call 911 to report the crash and request medical evaluation even if injuries aren't immediately obvious, as some symptoms take hours to appear. Once you're safe, get a copy of the CHP incident report for your records and reach out to your insurance provider to begin the claims process.
