Three individuals lost their lives and four others were injured following an eight-vehicle collision that resulted in a fire on Interstate 10 in Southern California on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. The incident halted traffic for several hours and required a substantial emergency response effort.
The serious accident occurred around 1:10 p.m. According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of a semi-truck failed to stop as traffic slowed, triggering a severe chain reaction involving four semi-trucks and four passenger cars.
Eyewitness Jason Calmelat observed the events unfold. He told KTLA, “My immediate thought was that someone had just died.” Calmelat reported seeing the red truck moving rapidly while other vehicles had stopped. The truck driver neither braked nor attempted to reduce speed, leading to a forceful collision with another truck and crushing two passenger vehicles.
One of the passenger vehicles exploded upon impact, as noted by Calmelat, who described a large fireball rising into the sky. KTLA footage from the scene showed significant destruction, including a vehicle so severely burned and damaged that its make or model could not be immediately identified by investigators.
Medical teams arrived at the scene and declared three people deceased on the highway. Four other individuals were taken to local hospitals for treatment, but the California Highway Patrol has not released details about the severity or status of their injuries. The identities of those involved and the specifics of their vehicle assignments remain undisclosed.
The collision led authorities to close all westbound lanes of Interstate 10 for an extended period, apart from two FasTrak lanes. Transition roads from Interstate 15 to Interstate 10 westbound were also closed as investigators documented the scene and cleared the wreckage.
The lanes reopened around 1 a.m. the following day, causing major delays for both commuters and commercial vehicles on one of Southern California’s key transportation routes.
The California Highway Patrol has initiated an investigation into the crash, focusing on why the semi-truck driver failed to stop as traffic slowed. The driver, a 21-year-old from Yuba City, California, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs. The investigation will also review whether any citations should be issued.
The incident took place near the Interstate 15 interchange, a busy area where traffic often slows in the afternoon. The crash involved commercial vehicles carrying cargo, in addition to passenger cars, complicating both the scene and the investigation.
Emergency responders encountered difficult conditions while extracting victims from the wreckage and managing the fire that engulfed at least one vehicle. The intense fire and resulting smoke reduced visibility, complicating rescue operations.
The collision raises ongoing concerns about safety on California’s interstate system, particularly involving the interaction between commercial trucks and passenger vehicles during peak traffic hours. The mix of heavy trucks, slowing traffic, and driver distraction can create dangerous situations on busy highways.
