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MENTONE, San Bernardino County, Calif., Oct. 15, 2026 — A two-vehicle crash Wednesday evening, October 14, left at least one person injured at Turquoise Avenue and Capri Avenue, the California Highway Patrol said. The collision involved a sedan and an SUV, according to the agency's traffic log.
The California Highway Patrol said a white four-door Dodge sedan and a green Toyota SUV collided at the intersection shortly before 6 p.m. The crash was initially logged as a collision with no injuries, then updated to reflect at least one injury requiring emergency medical response, CHP records show.
A traffic hazard was reported at the scene following the crash, according to the dispatch log. It is not yet known how many people were hurt or how serious the injuries were. The CHP has not released additional details about what led to the collision.
No further information on the drivers, including names or ages, has been made public. The crash remains under review, and authorities have not said whether any citations will be issued.
Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Why Vehicle Mismatches and Closing Speed Make Intersection Crashes Worse
A crash at an intersection often happens because one driver never sees the other coming until it's too late to brake or steer away. Distraction, even for a few seconds, removes the window a driver needs to notice cross traffic, judge its speed, and react. At typical city street speeds, that reaction window is already short. Lose it to a glance at a phone or a moment of inattention, and there's often no time left to avoid impact.
The severity of a two-vehicle crash also depends heavily on what's hitting what. A sedan and an SUV differ in height, weight, and structure. The SUV's frame sits higher, which can mean its bumper and frame rails strike the sedan above the areas built to absorb a crash, instead of lining up with them. That mismatch can send more force into the smaller car's cabin even at moderate speed.
Airbags, crumple zones, and seatbelts are designed around a fairly narrow set of impact angles and speeds. They do a lot to manage a straight-on hit absorbed by the front of a car. They do less when the force comes from the side, where there's less structure between the occupant and the other vehicle. That's part of why intersection collisions, even at city speeds, can produce injuries out of proportion to how fast anyone was going.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does weather or road condition play a role in intersection crashes?
Wet pavement, glare, and poor visibility can all extend stopping distance and make it harder for drivers to judge another vehicle's speed, raising the odds of a crash even at an intersection controlled by signals or signs.
What should someone do right after a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if possible, call 911, and exchange information with the other driver. Even if injuries aren't obvious right away, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider, since some injuries don't show symptoms immediately.
Where do most traffic crashes happen?
A large share of crashes occur at or near intersections, where vehicles cross paths, turn, or merge, and where a moment of distraction or a misjudged gap in traffic can lead to a collision.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Mentone, CA
If you're involved in a crash in Mentone, start by checking yourself and any passengers for injuries, then move to safety if the vehicles are drivable. Call 911 to report the collision and request medical help if anyone feels hurt, even minimally. Make sure to exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and take photos of the vehicles and the surrounding area if you're able.
Even when injuries seem minor at the scene, it's a good idea to see a doctor in the days that follow. Adrenaline can mask pain, and some injuries take time to surface. Remember to keep a copy of the CHP incident report for your records, and follow up with your insurance company once you have it.
