Published: June 7, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Pacoima, CA) – Six people were taken to hospitals after four vehicles collided at a Pacoima intersection on Saturday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that the collision occurred around 3:50 p.m. in the area of the 12700 block of Pierce Street near De Foe Avenue. Firefighters initially said five patients needed advanced life support treatment and transport, but later revised the count to six people who were injured and carried to nearby hospitals.
All six were expected to survive, fire officials said. Three of the injured were listed in fair condition and three were in good condition.
Aerial video of the scene captured a heavily damaged white sedan that appeared to have struck two parked cars, with a black sedan showing some damage nearby. The Los Angeles Police Department said the cause of the collision was still being investigated.
Analysis of the Pacoima Four-Car Collision
When several vehicles collide at an intersection, investigators generally work to reconstruct the order of events and determine how each vehicle entered the area. Under California's right-of-way rules in Vehicle Code section 21800, a driver entering an intersection must yield to a vehicle that has already entered from a different roadway, and when two vehicles arrive at the same time the driver on the left yields to the one on the right. If evidence shows a vehicle entered without yielding, that statute may become part of the analysis.
Speed is another factor police often examine in multi-vehicle crashes. The Basic Speed Law in Vehicle Code section 22350 requires drivers to travel no faster than is reasonable and prudent for the road and conditions. Should investigators find that a vehicle was moving too fast for the setting, that finding could be relevant to how the crash unfolded, though no such conclusion has been reported here.
In California, the general duty of care under Civil Code section 1714 makes a person responsible for injuries caused by a lack of ordinary care. Where a driver is found to have violated a traffic statute, Evidence Code section 669 allows a presumption of negligence if that violation proximately caused the type of injury the law was meant to prevent. Because more than one vehicle was involved, any later civil claims could also turn on Civil Code section 1431.2, which allocates non-economic damages according to each party's share of fault. The measure of recoverable damages would be governed by Civil Code section 3333, which compensates for all detriment proximately caused.
What Injured People and Families Can Do
People hurt in a multi-vehicle crash can take several practical steps while the official investigation continues. Obtaining a copy of the police collision report, keeping records of medical care, and preserving any photographs or witness information can help document what happened. Drivers involved in an injury crash generally must file a written report with police within 24 hours under Vehicle Code section 20008 and report the incident to the DMV within 10 days under Vehicle Code section 16000. California's two-year deadline for personal injury claims under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 is also worth keeping in mind. Anyone with questions about their rights after a collision like this may wish to speak with an attorney. To discuss a specific situation, call or text (888) 800-6731 or click here for a free case review.
About the Author
Houtan Yaghmai, Esq., President & Managing Attorney of Yaghmai Law Firm, APC. California State Bar No. 298487. Speaks English, French, and Persian. The firm represents personal injury clients throughout Southern California – consultations by phone, text, or video, no office visits required.
This post was assembled with AI assistance from publicly reported news sources cited below. All California Vehicle Code references were verified against leginfo.legislature.ca.gov. Facts were re-checked via additional web searches before publication. This post is based on initial news reports and may be updated as new facts develop. Nothing in this article is legal advice. Yaghmai Law Firm, APC is not associated with the investigating agencies and does not represent any party named in this post unless explicitly stated.
Sources:
1. CBSNEWS – 6 hospitalized after multi-car crash in Pacoima – CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/pacoima-crash-pierce-street-de-foe-avenue-six-hospitalized/
