Available 
PACOIMA, Los Angeles County, Calif., Oct. 15, 2026 — A five-vehicle crash shut down lanes on southbound Interstate 5 near Osborne Street in Pacoima Wednesday afternoon, October 14, according to the California Highway Patrol. The agency said the collision triggered a SigAlert and brought traffic to a stop for roughly an hour.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash was initially reported as involving around four vehicles before it was confirmed to involve five. A caller reported a gray Toyota Camry had been driving recklessly before colliding with three other vehicles. A gray GMC Terrain was also reported blocking a lane after striking an unknown vehicle, and a black GMC Acadia came to rest on the shoulder.
One caller reported having an infant in the vehicle and requested medical help, prompting an ambulance request. The crash was initially logged with unknown injuries before the California Highway Patrol updated it to a minor-injury collision. Firefighters from Los Angeles and Altadena units responded to the scene.
The SigAlert closed multiple lanes, though the agency said the carpool lane and the number one lane stayed open and drivers could still exit at Osborne Street. Four tow trucks, two flatbeds and two regular tow rigs, were called to clear the vehicles. By midafternoon, one damaged vehicle was reported on scene with a flatbed from a local tow company, and the Freeway Service Patrol later closed out its response.
The circumstances of the collision remain under investigation. Our thoughts are with those who were injured, and we wish them a full recovery.
Why a Five-Car Pileup on the Freeway Does So Much Damage
A chain-reaction crash on a freeway is less about any single impact and more about how many impacts stack up in a short stretch of road. When traffic suddenly slows or stops, the vehicles behind are closing the gap at highway speed, and each driver has only a second or two to see brake lights and react. That gap keeps shrinking down the line, so the last vehicles to react often hit hardest.
The damage also depends on what each vehicle hits and from which direction. A rear bumper and trunk are built with some crumple space to absorb a hit from behind, but a side door or a quarter panel has far less structure protecting the cabin. When one vehicle gets pushed sideways into another's door area by the force of a hit from behind, the energy has nowhere soft to go.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28,595 large-truck occupants were injured in multi-vehicle crashes involving large trucks in 2023. That figure reflects how much worse multi-vehicle crashes can get when a much heavier vehicle is part of the chain, since a heavier vehicle keeps pushing forward even after smaller cars ahead of it have already stopped.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do chain-reaction crashes happen?
They typically start with one sudden slowdown, a stalled vehicle, or an initial collision that drivers further back don't see in time. Each following vehicle has less room and less time to stop than the one ahead of it, so a single incident can quickly involve several more cars.
How can drivers avoid being caught in a pile-up?
Leaving extra following distance in heavy traffic and watching several cars ahead, not just the one directly in front, gives more time to react if brake lights appear suddenly.
What should I do if I'm stopped near a crash on the highway?
Turn on hazard lights, stay in the vehicle with a seatbelt on if it's safe to do so, and move to the shoulder only if it can be done without stepping into traffic lanes.
How does fog or low visibility contribute to pile-ups?
Reduced visibility shortens the distance at which drivers can see trouble ahead, which means less time to brake and a higher chance that following vehicles arrive at full speed into a crash that's already happened.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Pacoima, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle crash, move to a safe spot off the traffic lanes if the vehicle is drivable, and turn on hazard lights. Call 911 and report any injuries so paramedics can be sent right away.
Even if you feel fine, it's worth getting checked by a medical provider afterward. Some injuries from a sudden stop or impact don't show symptoms immediately. Exchange information with other drivers involved and, if possible, take photos of vehicle positions and damage before vehicles are towed. File a report with the California Highway Patrol or local police if one hasn't already been started at the scene.
