Available 
Burbank, CA (August 5, 2026) — A Tuesday morning multi-vehicle collision blocked several lanes of southbound Interstate 5 near Empire Avenue in Burbank on August 4.
California Highway Patrol dispatch records show the crash was reported at approximately 8:44 a.m. Three vehicles were identified, including a white Lexus RX 350, a white sedan, and a Toyota sport utility vehicle.
One caller reported that the Lexus rolled several times before coming to rest on its wheels. Vehicles were left blocking the high-occupancy vehicle lane and other travel lanes, prompting a response from emergency vehicles.
All southbound traffic was later stopped and diverted at Buena Vista Street while responders cleared the roadway. The vehicles had been moved to the right shoulder by approximately 9:26 a.m. The cause of the crash remains under review.
We hope everyone involved recovers fully.
Where the Crash Happened: Southbound I-5 Near Empire Ave
Southbound Interstate 5 near Empire Avenue carries regional traffic through Burbank while also serving drivers entering and leaving the freeway through nearby interchanges. Traffic in this area may move across several lanes as motorists prepare for local exits or continue toward other parts of Los Angeles County.
A crash affecting the high-occupancy vehicle, middle, and slower lanes can leave few paths around the scene. Diverting traffic at Buena Vista Street allowed responders to work across the roadway while the damaged vehicles were removed.
What We Know
- The collision was reported at approximately 8:44 a.m. on Tuesday.
- Three vehicles were involved.
- A white Lexus RX 350, a white sedan, and a Toyota sport utility vehicle were identified.
- The Lexus was reported to have rolled before landing on its wheels.
- Multiple southbound lanes were blocked.
- Emergency vehicles responded.
- Traffic was temporarily diverted at Buena Vista Street.
- The roadway was reported clear by approximately 9:26 a.m.
How One Impact Can Spread Across Several Freeway Lanes
A multi-vehicle collision can continue beyond the first point of contact when one vehicle crosses neighboring lanes or overturns. On a freeway, nearby drivers may have only seconds to brake or change direction as damaged vehicles move through active traffic.
The reported positions of the three vehicles across the I-5 lanes will help investigators reconstruct the sequence. Damage patterns may show which contact occurred first and how the Lexus came to roll before returning to its wheels.
How This Crash Is Investigated
CHP investigators may document vehicle damage, debris, tire marks, lane positions, and the locations where the vehicles stopped. That physical evidence can help establish the direction and order of the impacts.
Statements from the drivers and witnesses may also be compared with available freeway-camera, dash-camera, or vehicle data. The initial dispatch information reflects reports made during the response and does not establish fault.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Collision
People involved in a California freeway collision should preserve photographs, towing documents, repair estimates, medical records, and insurance correspondence. When vehicles move through several lanes, clear records of each damaged area may help explain the sequence documented in the final report.
For crashes investigated by the California Highway Patrol, reports are available through the CHP Crash Portal at crashes.chp.ca.gov or through a CHP 190 request submitted by mail or in person. The collision report form is CHP 555, while CHP 190 is the request form.
The online portal fee is $22. Mail and in-person requests cost $10 per 25 pages through CHP. A report becomes available after the investigating officer files it, and the portal indicates when it is ready.
Under Vehicle Code § 20012, eligible parties of interest include drivers, passengers, vehicle or property owners, parents or guardians, and legal or insurance representatives. California collision reports are not public records and remain restricted to eligible parties, with no fixed public-release window.
Local Accident Reports compiles incident information from official agencies and credible local sources. Details from initial reports may be updated as official investigations conclude. If you have direct knowledge that any information here is inaccurate, please contact us so we can review and correct the record.
