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SAN MARTIN, Santa Clara County, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 — Three vehicles collided Sunday morning, October 4, on northbound US-101 at San Martin Avenue, according to the California Highway Patrol. At least one person was reportedly hurt, and the crash left a traffic hazard blocking lanes including the carpool lane, the agency said.
The California Highway Patrol said the crash involved a white Toyota Corolla, a gray Ford F-150 and a black Toyota van. Initial radio traffic described the Ford colliding with two white vehicles before the wreck came to rest in the number one lane, blocking both the HOV lane and a fast lane of travel.
One person involved was reportedly described by a witness as appearing disoriented after the crash.
The highway patrol confirmed the call was closed out with a report of damage to vehicles and roadway property.
The crash remains under investigation. We wish the injured a swift and full recovery.
How Investigators Piece Together a Multi-Vehicle Crash on a Freeway
Multi-vehicle wrecks on a busy highway are harder to reconstruct than simpler two-car crashes because officers first have to establish the order in which each vehicle struck another. Investigators measure skid marks, debris fields and final resting positions, and they often review dashcam or nearby traffic camera footage if it exists, before they can say with confidence how the chain of impacts unfolded.
Agencies typically hold back driver and passenger names until next of kin have been notified, a process that can take longer when multiple people and vehicles are involved. Toxicology results, if they are ordered, are processed through a crime lab and commonly take several weeks to come back, and a final collision report is not usually completed until all those pieces, including mechanical inspections of the vehicles, are assembled.
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 the scope of a multi-vehicle investigation often extends well beyond the people inside the cars themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do secondary crashes happen after an initial wreck?
Once a crash blocks a lane, approaching drivers often have little time to react, especially in heavy highway traffic. Debris, stopped vehicles and sudden braking can trigger a second collision before responders arrive to manage traffic around the scene.
How much following distance is recommended on a freeway?
Safety experts generally recommend at least a three-second gap behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions, and more at higher speeds or in heavier traffic, since that buffer gives a driver time to brake or steer around a sudden hazard.
What makes a three-vehicle crash more complicated to investigate than a two-car crash?
Each additional vehicle adds another set of physical evidence, another driver's account and another insurance claim to sort through, which multiplies the work needed to establish how the impacts occurred in sequence.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in San Martin, CA
If you're involved in or witness a multi-vehicle wreck on the highway, try to move to a safe spot out of traffic if your vehicle is drivable, and call 911 to report injuries or hazards blocking lanes. Even if you feel fine, a medical check in the hours after a crash can catch injuries like whiplash or internal bruising that aren't immediately obvious.
Exchange information with other drivers if it's safe to do so, and take photos of vehicle positions and damage before cars are moved or towed. Request a copy of the official collision report once it's available, since it will be useful for insurance purposes and for understanding what investigators ultimately determined.
