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ORANGE, Orange County, CA, Sept. 21, 2026 — A hit-and-run crash with injuries closed a lane on eastbound State Route 22 in Orange on Sunday afternoon, September 20, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported just before 1:15 p.m. near the Lewis Street overpass, on eastbound SR-22 just west of the exit, the CHP said. A vehicle was reported stopped in the number 3 lane. The agency's log did not specify how many people were hurt or the extent of their injuries.
California Highway Patrol units responded and requested a tow through the rotation system. One towing company was turned away because it lacked the right truck, according to the dispatch log, and a second company was sent to the scene. A Freeway Service Patrol unit also moved a vehicle near the overpass to help clear the lane.
The driver believed to have caused the crash did not stay at the scene, and no description had been released as of Sunday afternoon. The CHP said the investigation remains open. No arrests had been announced.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
Why Hit-and-Run Crashes Are So Harmful?
Speed plays a bigger role in a hit-and-run than most people realize, not just in causing the crash but in what happens after it. A driver moving fast when a collision happens has less time to react, and the force of that impact is what causes the damage that follows, whether that's to a vehicle's frame, its safety cage, or the equipment inside meant to absorb a hit.
Bumpers, crumple zones, and airbags are built to manage a certain amount of force, distributed in a certain way. When a vehicle leaves the scene right after impact, it means the driver reached highway speed before the crash and covered ground quickly afterward, which can complicate how investigators reconstruct exactly how hard the vehicles hit and from what angle.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, hit-and-run crashes accounted for 7 percent of all traffic fatalities when deaths reached 2,972 in 2022. That share reflects how a driver's decision to flee follows a crash serious enough to already involve real risk, not just a fender bender.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is distracted driving considered so risky?
Even a few seconds of taking your eyes off the road at highway speed means covering a long distance blind, which cuts down the time available to brake or steer around a hazard.
How do weather and road surface conditions factor into crashes like this?
Wet pavement, glare, or debris can extend stopping distance and make a driver's reaction time matter even more, especially in higher-speed freeway lanes.
What should someone do right after being in a car accident?
Move to a safe spot if possible, call 911, exchange information if the other driver stays, and get checked by a medical provider even if injuries aren't obvious right away.
Where do most traffic accidents happen?
Crashes cluster on busy arterial roads and freeway interchanges, where merging, lane changes, and speed differences between vehicles create more opportunities for a mistake.
What to Do After a Hit-and-Run Crash in Orange, CA
If you're involved in a hit-and-run in Orange, try to get a description of the other vehicle, including color, make, and any part of the license plate you can catch, and report it to police as soon as you're safe. Photos of the scene and any visible damage can help investigators later, even if you can't get a full plate number.
Get checked by a doctor even if you feel fine at the scene. Adrenaline can mask pain from a crash for hours. Keep any medical records and a copy of the police report, since both may be needed for insurance claims tied to an unidentified driver.
