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NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Los Angeles County, CA, Sept. 25, 2026 — A five-vehicle crash blocked lanes on southbound SR-170 at Riverside Drive during Thursday evening's commute, September 24, according to the California Highway Patrol. At least one injury was reported.
The California Highway Patrol logged the initial report of a five-vehicle collision just after 5:11 p.m. Thursday. Within minutes, units on scene described two vehicles involved in a crash with minor injuries, and traffic backed up as the wreck blocked the carpool lane and lane one on the southbound side, north of Riverside Drive.
A tow company was requested around 5:27 p.m. to remove two trucks from the roadway, CHP dispatch logs show. It was not immediately clear how many of the five vehicles reported in the initial call were confirmed to be directly involved once officers arrived, and the extent of injuries beyond the minor injury designation has not been detailed.
The California Highway Patrol has not released names of those involved or said what led up to the crash. The incident remains under investigation.
We wish the injured a complete and speedy recovery.
Why Multi-Vehicle Pileups Happen in Heavy Commute Traffic
A pileup usually starts with one driver that brakes hard, the driver behind reacts a beat late, and by the third or fourth car back there is no time left to stop. On a freeway at commute speed, a few seconds of inattention, a phone glance, a lane change without a clear gap, is often enough to turn a single slowdown into a chain-reaction crash involving several vehicles.
Dense traffic makes this worse because following distances shrink. Drivers packed close together at highway speed have less room to absorb a sudden stop, so when the vehicle ahead brakes, everyone behind is forced to brake harder and later than they would in lighter traffic. Trucks and larger vehicles add another variable, since they take longer to slow and can obscure the view of what's happening further up the line.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 17,008 motor-vehicle crash deaths occurred outside passenger vehicles in crashes involving passenger vehicles in 2023. That figure is a reminder that people outside the vehicles involved, whether on foot, on a motorcycle, or working a crash scene, carry real risk any time a highway backs up around a wreck.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does following distance matter so much on the freeway?
The gap between vehicles is what gives a driver time to react. At highway speed, even a one-second cushion can be the difference between stopping in time and rear-ending the car ahead.
Are secondary crashes common after an initial wreck?
Yes. Once a crash blocks lanes, traffic behind it slows or stops fast, and drivers who don't see the backup in time can strike stopped vehicles, adding more cars to the incident.
What makes a multi-vehicle crash hard to investigate?
Investigators have to figure out the order vehicles struck each other, which is harder with more cars, more damage, and often conflicting driver accounts of what happened first.
What typically causes a multi-vehicle pileup?
Common factors include sudden braking in heavy traffic, tailgating, reduced visibility, and one driver's late reaction setting off a chain of collisions behind them.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in North Hollywood, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle crash, try to move to a safe spot off the travel lanes if your vehicle is drivable, and turn on hazard lights to warn traffic behind you. Check yourself and passengers for injuries before checking on others, and call 911 if anyone needs medical attention.
Even if you feel fine, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider afterward, since some injuries from a sudden jolt or impact don't show symptoms right away. Exchange information with other drivers involved, take photos of the scene if it's safe to do so, and get a copy of the CHP or police report once it's available for your records.
