Published: August 16, 2026
By: Yaghmai Law Firm, APC
(Van Nuys, CA) – Five people were hurt Saturday evening when two vehicles left the San Diego (405) Freeway and tumbled roughly 200 feet down an embankment, coming to rest beside Woodley Park in Van Nuys.
The California Highway Patrol reported the collision at 7:03 p.m. Saturday on the southbound 405 just south of Victory Boulevard. Footage recorded at the scene captured firefighters using hydraulic rescue equipment to extract an injured man from a pickup truck that had flipped over. Nearby, a sedan had also come to rest upside down along the slope.
Besides the man freed from the pickup, the video showed three women and a second man near the overturned sedan. Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton said all five were transported by ambulance to hospitals for care, and their conditions were not immediately known.
According to the CHP, a witness reported that one of the vehicles had been moving quickly and weaving between lanes shortly before the crash, though it was not clear which vehicle. Every lane had been reopened by 9:20 p.m.
Know Your Rights After a Crash
After a serious crash, California law gives injured people and families limited time to act. Evidence like vehicle data, camera footage, and witness memories fades quickly. A free, no-obligation case review can help you understand your options. Call or text (888) 800-6731, or start a free case review online. Asistencia en español disponible.
Analysis of the 405 Freeway Collision
Investigators looking into a multi-vehicle freeway crash like this one typically work to reconstruct the movements of each vehicle in the moments beforehand. A witness account describing one car moving quickly and weaving through lanes is the kind of statement the CHP would seek to corroborate against physical evidence, dashcam or surveillance video, and vehicle data. Nothing here establishes which vehicle that was or that any driver broke a law; those questions remain open.
If the evidence eventually shows a driver was traveling faster than was reasonable for conditions, California's Basic Speed Law, Vehicle Code section 22350, could become relevant, as could the maximum-speed provisions of Vehicle Code section 22349. Under Evidence Code section 669, a proven violation of a safety statute that proximately causes injury of the type the law was meant to prevent can create a presumption that the driver failed to use due care. Whether that framework applies to anyone here depends entirely on facts not yet public.
More broadly, California negligence law under Civil Code section 1714(a) holds each person responsible for harm caused by a lack of ordinary care. When more than one party may share responsibility, Civil Code section 1431.2 directs that non-economic damages be allocated in proportion to each party's percentage of fault. A person injured through another's negligence may recover the full detriment proximately caused, as measured by Civil Code section 3333.
What Injured People and Their Families Can Do
Anyone hurt in a crash like this should obtain a copy of the CHP collision report, follow through on medical evaluation and treatment, and preserve evidence such as photographs, the involved vehicles, and the names of any witnesses. California generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1, and drivers involved in an injury crash have their own short reporting deadlines under Vehicle Code sections 20008 and 16000. Because a freeway crash involving multiple vehicles and disputed accounts can raise complex questions of liability and insurance, it is often worth speaking with an attorney early. Were you, or someone you love, involved in this crash? A Van Nuys Personal Injury Lawyer at Yaghmai Law Firm can explain your options and deal with the insurance companies for you. Call or text (888) 800-6731 or request 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. RSS_MYNEWSLA – Five Injured in 405 Freeway Crash in Van Nuys: https://mynewsla.com/business/2026/08/15/five-injured-in-405-freeway-crash-in-van-nuys-2/