Two Killed, Three Injured in East Palo Alto Seven-Vehicle Crash

By Yosi Yahoudai Founder and Managing Partner

September 30, 2026

Car Accidents

PALO ALTO, CA – Two people were killed and three others were injured Tuesday morning after a minivan struck six vehicles at a busy East Palo Alto intersection, authorities said. The seven-vehicle collision was reported about 8:20 a.m. Sept. 29 near Bay Road and University Avenue.

Deputies and East Palo Alto police officers arrived during the morning commute and found damage involving the minivan and six other vehicles. One of the vehicles was a SamTrans Ride Plus van, a smaller on-demand transit vehicle operated within the regional transportation system. Investigators said the minivan came to rest on Bay Road after the sequence of impacts.

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Driver and Passenger Died in Palo Alto Crash

The adult man driving the minivan suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His only passenger, an adult woman, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died. Officials had not released either name by Tuesday afternoon while the coroner’s office continued its notification process.

Three people in the other vehicles also were injured. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening, but authorities did not say which vehicles they occupied or whether any patient had been riding in the SamTrans van. No additional medical updates were announced in the initial crash account.

The five reported patients represented only part of the seven-vehicle scene. Officials did not report injuries to every driver or passenger, and they did not say how many people were evaluated without transport. The public account distinguished the three surviving patients from the minivan’s two occupants but did not connect each survivor to a specific vehicle.

The collision shut down the Bay Road and University Avenue intersection for about four hours while emergency crews treated the injured, removed the damaged vehicles and completed their initial work. Both streets had reopened by about 12:30 p.m.

San Mateo Sheriff’s Office Investigating Accident

Because a SamTrans vehicle was involved, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation. Its major accident investigation team responded to determine how the minivan came to strike the six vehicles and how the impacts unfolded through the intersection.

Authorities had not identified the minivan driver, described a suspected traffic violation or said whether speed, impairment or a medical emergency was being considered. They also had not reported any arrest or citation. Those unanswered questions left responsibility for the crash unresolved even though investigators had identified the minivan as the vehicle that initiated the multi-vehicle sequence.

The sheriff’s office asked witnesses and anyone with additional information to call 650-363-4911. The investigation remained active after the roadway reopened Tuesday afternoon.