MODESTO, Stanislaus County, CA, Sept. 27, 2026 — A semi-truck and an SUV collided on westbound State Route 132 near Paradise Road early Saturday morning, September 26, according to the California Highway Patrol. At least one person was reported injured.
The California Highway Patrol logged the crash shortly after 6 a.m. Saturday, describing it as a white 18-wheeler semi truck colliding with an SUV on westbound SR-132 at Paradise Road. Dispatch notes flagged the crash as a traffic hazard for other drivers approaching the scene.
Within minutes, radio traffic indicated a person involved in the semi was hurt and needed transport by ambulance. A fire response was also dispatched to the scene, according to the log. The extent of the injuries has not been released.
The California Highway Patrol has not said what led up to the crash. No further details on the vehicles' occupants, including names or ages, have been made public. The investigation is ongoing.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
What Makes a Truck Crash So Damaging on Impact
A loaded semi can weigh 20 to 30 times more than an SUV, so in a collision the smaller vehicle absorbs most of the change in speed. The truck's frame and cargo keep moving while the SUV's structure has to stop everything almost entirely on its own.
Height mismatch is another problem. A semi's trailer sits higher off the ground than the hood and bumper of most SUVs, so in some crash angles the SUV can slide partly beneath the trailer instead of striking the truck's built-in crash structure. That is called an underride, and it can defeat bumpers, crumple zones and airbags because the impact lands above the parts of the car meant to absorb it. The reverse, an override, happens when the truck's higher stance rides up and over a smaller vehicle's frame.
Seatbelts and airbags are engineered around the front and sides of a passenger vehicle absorbing crash energy in the first fractions of a second. When a crash bypasses that structure, as underride and override crashes often do, those safety systems have less to work with. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4 percent of large-truck drivers involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 g/dL or higher in 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are truck accidents often more dangerous than typical car crashes?
The size and weight difference between a loaded semi and a passenger vehicle means the smaller vehicle usually takes on most of the crash forces, even at moderate speeds.
What are a truck's blind spots, and why do they matter?
Semi-trucks have large blind spots along both sides, directly behind the trailer, and close in front of the cab. Vehicles in these zones may be invisible to the driver, which is why merging or braking near a truck calls for extra caution.
What is an underride crash?
An underride crash happens when a smaller vehicle slides partly or fully beneath a truck's trailer, often bypassing the vehicle's bumper and crumple zones designed to absorb impact.
What typically causes large-truck crashes?
Common factors include driver fatigue, following distance, mechanical issues, weather, and visibility problems tied to a truck's size and blind spots. Investigators review each case individually before determining a cause.
What to Do After a Truck Crash in Modesto, CA
If you're involved in or witness a truck crash, move to a safe area away from traffic if possible and call 911. Even if you feel fine, ask for a medical evaluation at the scene, since some injuries from a truck collision don't show symptoms right away.
Note what you can, including the time, location, and any vehicles or road conditions involved, and get contact information for other drivers and witnesses. If law enforcement responds, request a copy of the incident report once it's available. Follow up with your own doctor in the days after, even for minor aches or stiffness, since injuries from a collision this size can take time to surface.
