LOS ALTOS, CA — Two drivers were killed and another person was hospitalized after a wrong-way collision involving five vehicles on Interstate 280 in Los Altos Thursday evening, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash unfolded on southbound I-280 near Foothill Expressway shortly after 5 p.m. Authorities said one vehicle entered the southbound lanes from the northbound side and hit four other vehicles, setting off the multi-car wreck.
CHP closed the freeway for several hours while officers and emergency crews worked the scene and began investigating what happened. Southbound lanes did not reopen until around 9:30 p.m.
How the wrong way collision unfolded on southbound I-280
Investigators say the chain of events began when a driver traveling in the northbound lanes crossed over into traffic headed the opposite direction. Once that vehicle entered the southbound lanes, it struck four other vehicles in quick succession.
The impact left a total of five vehicles involved in the crash. CHP did not immediately release details on the makes of the vehicles, the identities of the people involved or the exact sequence of impacts after the initial crossing into oncoming traffic.
Because the collision happened during the Thursday evening commute, the shutdown caused a major disruption on a busy Bay Area freeway. Crews remained at the scene for hours as investigators documented evidence and cleared damaged vehicles from the roadway.
Two dead and one person taken to hospital after the crash
CHP said two drivers died as a result of the collision. A third person was transported to a hospital, though authorities did not immediately say how serious that person’s injuries were.
The crash outcome underscores how quickly a wrong-way move can turn deadly on a divided highway. With traffic moving at freeway speeds, even one vehicle entering the opposite direction can leave other drivers with little time to react.
Officials have not yet said whether the people killed were inside the vehicle that crossed into the wrong-way lanes or in other cars struck in the crash. Their names have not been released.
Highway closure lasted for hours as crews cleared the scene
After the crash, southbound I-280 was shut down for several hours near Foothill Expressway. The closure allowed first responders to treat the injured, investigate the collision and remove wreckage from the lanes.
Video from the aftermath showed overturned vehicles and tow trucks working through the cleanup. The images reflected the severity of the crash and the amount of damage left behind on the freeway.
The southbound lanes reopened around 9:30 p.m., roughly four and a half hours after the collision was reported. CHP did not say whether any lanes in the northbound direction were affected.
Officials have not said why the driver entered oncoming traffic
The California Highway Patrol said the cause of the wrong-way move is still under investigation. Officers have not explained why the driver crossed into the southbound lanes or whether impairment, speed, medical issues or another factor played a role.
That leaves the key question in the case unanswered as investigators continue their work. CHP has not announced any arrests or cited any traffic violations in connection with the crash.
Wrong-way collisions are among the most dangerous freeway incidents because they can develop suddenly and leave little room for evasive action. In this case, the sequence began with a single vehicle entering the wrong direction and ended with multiple destroyed cars and fatalities.
A deadly reminder of the risk on busy Bay Area freeways
The crash happened on one of the region’s major commuter routes, where heavy traffic and high speeds can make collisions especially severe. Even a brief wrong-way incursion can trigger a chain reaction involving multiple vehicles.
Thursday’s wreck also forced drivers to contend with a prolonged closure during the evening commute. For hours, the freeway remained blocked while responders managed the scene and investigators sorted out how the crash happened.
Authorities have not provided a timeline for when more details may be released. For now, the CHP investigation remains focused on the driver who crossed into the opposing lanes and the circumstances that led to the deadly collision.
