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UPLAND, San Bernardino County, Calif., Sept. 18, 2026 — A chain-reaction crash involving as many as five or six vehicles shut down lanes on westbound I-10 near Mountain Avenue early Friday morning, September 18, according to authorities. Injuries were reported, though the extent has not been released.
The crash was reported shortly before 1 a.m., according to a state traffic dispatch log. A white Honda Civic was initially reported disabled and facing the wrong way, creating a hazard in the roadway before other vehicles became involved, authorities said.
Radio traffic described a pink sedan, a black sedan, a red sedan and a blue sedan among the vehicles caught up in the collision, with some reportedly left in the roadway and one facing sideways across the middle lanes. One account relayed by dispatchers suggested a black sedan spun out immediately before the crash.
Emergency crews closed lanes to work the scene, and tow trucks were called to clear the vehicles. All lanes had reopened by about 1:17 a.m.
The investigation into how the collision unfolded is ongoing. We wish the injured a speedy recovery.
A Common Misconception About Multi-Vehicle Pileups
Many drivers assume that chain-reaction crashes happen mostly because of bad weather or poor road design. In reality, sudden erratic driving, like a single vehicle spinning out or stopping unexpectedly in a travel lane, can trigger a pileup on a clear night on a straight stretch of highway just as easily.
Another assumption is that these crashes are rare events involving unusual circumstances. But once one vehicle becomes a hazard in a live lane, especially at night when visibility is limited, following vehicles often have only seconds to react, and a single mistake can cascade into several collisions.
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 people most exposed in any roadway incident, including a multi-vehicle pileup, are often not inside the vehicles that started it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does darkness or limited visibility play into pileups like this one?
At night, drivers have less time to spot a stalled or spinning vehicle ahead. Reduced visibility narrows the window to brake or steer around a hazard, which raises the odds that following vehicles get pulled into a crash.
Why does following distance matter so much in these situations?
More space between vehicles gives a driver more time to react if something ahead suddenly stops or spins out. On a highway at speed, even a second or two of extra distance can be the difference between stopping safely and colliding.
Do secondary crashes often follow the initial collision?
Yes. Once vehicles are stopped or disabled in traffic lanes, oncoming vehicles that don't see them in time can strike the wreckage or each other, adding vehicles to the original incident.
What makes multi-vehicle crashes difficult for investigators?
With several vehicles involved, investigators have to work out the sequence of impacts, which vehicle initiated the chain, and how each subsequent collision occurred, often relying on physical evidence, vehicle damage patterns, and driver and witness accounts.
What to Do After a Multi-Vehicle Crash in Upland, CA
If you're involved in a multi-vehicle collision, try to move to a safe location if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so, and turn on hazard lights to warn other traffic. Call 911 to report the crash and request medical help if anyone is hurt, even if injuries seem minor at first.
Get checked by a professional as soon as possible. Adrenaline can mask pain from whiplash, internal injuries, or concussions that don't show symptoms right away.
Exchange information with other drivers involved, and if officers respond, ask how to obtain a copy of the official report. Take photos of the scene, vehicle positions, and any visible damage if you're able, since multi-vehicle crashes can involve disputes over how the chain of events unfolded.
