Available 
Available 
WESTMINSTER, Orange County, Calif., Sept. 24, 2026 — A crash involving a pickup, a sedan and a semi truck blocked lanes on northbound I-405 near Westminster Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, September 23, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The California Highway Patrol received a report of a collision involving a red Toyota pickup, a silver sedan and a yellow semi truck on the northbound 405 just south of Westminster Avenue shortly before 1:40 p.m. CHP dispatch records show the crash was initially logged as a collision with unknown injuries before being reclassified as a collision with an ambulance en route.
Radio traffic noted the wreck occurred on the right shoulder of the freeway. A California Highway Patrol unit from a nearby station requested a tow, and dispatchers indicated a fire response was notified to assist along the northbound 405 near Edwards Street, close to the crash site. The extent of injuries has not been released.
The California Highway Patrol has not said what led up to the collision or whether any citations have been issued. The incident remains under investigation.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
A Common Misconception About Crashes Involving Semi Trucks
Many drivers assume that most serious truck crashes happen at night, on rural highways, when traffic is thin, and fatigue has set in. That assumption shapes how people think about risk on the road, but it does not match the pattern seen in federal crash data.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 76 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred on weekdays in 2023. That points to routine daytime freeway traffic, like commuters and commercial routes moving through commutes and deliveries, as the setting where these crashes concentrate, not the overnight hours many people picture.
It's a useful reminder that congestion, lane changes, and merging in ordinary daytime traffic, the kind found on a stretch of interstate like I-405, play a bigger role in truck crash risk than time of day alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes truck accidents more dangerous than car crashes?
The size and weight difference between a semi truck and a passenger vehicle means occupants of smaller cars typically absorb more force in a collision. Trucks also require longer stopping distances, which can make sudden slowdowns in traffic harder to avoid.
What are a truck's blind spots and why do they matter?
Semi trucks have large blind spots along both sides, directly behind the trailer, and immediately in front of the cab. Vehicles in these zones may not be visible to the driver, which is why safety experts advise staying out of a truck's blind spots when possible.
What is an underride crash?
An underride crash occurs when a smaller vehicle slides partly or fully beneath a truck's trailer during a collision, usually because the trailer sits higher than a car's crumple zones and bumper.
What are common causes of large-truck accidents?
Investigators frequently point to factors such as driver fatigue, following distance, mechanical issues, weather conditions, and traffic congestion, though the specific cause of any individual crash is determined case by case.
What to Do After a Truck Accident in Westminster, CA
If you're involved in a crash with a semi-truck on a freeway like the 405, try to move to a safe area if your vehicle is drivable and turn on hazard lights. Call 911 and wait for California Highway Patrol or paramedics to arrive, even if injuries seem minor at first, since some symptoms take hours to appear.
Get checked by a medical professional as soon as possible after the crash, and keep records of any treatment. Request a copy of the official collision report once it's available, and take photos of the scene and vehicle damage if it's safe to do so. Exchange information with other drivers involved, but avoid discussing fault at the scene.
