Semi-truck Crash in Tarzana blocks 101 Freeway with Cinder Blocks

TARZANA, CA — Two big rig trucks collided on the 101 Freeway in Tarzana early Tuesday, scattering cinder blocks across multiple lanes and prompting the California Highway Patrol to close nearly all lanes during the morning commute.

The crash was reported around 4:10 a.m. just south of the Tampa Avenue off-ramp, according to the CHP. One of the trucks, a 53-foot big rig hauling a flatbed trailer, overturned in the collision, while the second truck was left jackknifed. Cinder blocks and other debris spilled across the freeway. The cause of the crash remained under investigation Tuesday afternoon.

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The CHP issued a SigAlert at 4:27 a.m., closing all lanes except the far right while crews arranged for two heavy-duty tow trucks to remove the wrecked rigs, including the one on its side. The CHP also called on Caltrans to set up a hard closure while crews cleared the cinder blocks from the roadway. By early Tuesday afternoon, two lanes had reopened, while the remaining lanes were expected to stay closed until further notice.

Early coverage of the crash varied in a few details. ABC7 put the crash closer to 4 a.m. and described the closed lanes as westbound, while other reports cited the CHP’s 4:10 a.m. log entry and described the same stretch as northbound. One early wire report described the spilled load as resembling bricks rather than cinder blocks. MyNewsLA was the only outlet to report on the driver’s condition, citing an arriving officer’s account of minor injuries and video showing the driver with his head wrapped in bandages.

Cargo Spills Similar to Tarzana Truck Accident

Nationally, 120,724 large trucks were involved in injury crashes in 2024, a 5.4% increase from the year before, according to a National Safety Council analysis of federal crash data. Large-truck crashes killed 5,340 people nationwide that year, and 70% of those killed were occupants of other vehicles rather than the trucks themselves.

The 101 Freeway through the San Fernando Valley carries heavy volumes of commuter and commercial truck traffic, including trucks hauling construction materials like the cinder blocks scattered in Tuesday’s crash. When cargo escapes a moving truck onto a freeway carrying thousands of daily commuters, the debris becomes its own hazard, forcing drivers to swerve or brake suddenly to avoid it.

California Liability for Big-Rig Cargo Spills

Under California law, all drivers, including commercial truck operators, owe other motorists a duty of reasonable care under Civil Code § 1714. That duty extends to how a truck’s cargo is loaded and secured before the vehicle ever enters the highway.

Vehicle Code § 23114 prohibits driving a vehicle on a public highway unless it is constructed, covered, or loaded in a way that prevents its contents from dropping, spilling, or otherwise escaping. Aggregate materials such as cinder blocks carry additional loading and covering requirements under the statute. A violation of Section 23114 can support a finding of negligence per se under Evidence Code § 669, allowing a jury to presume a driver or trucking company was negligent if the violation caused the harm at issue.

Trucking companies can be held liable beyond the driver for negligent hiring, training, or maintenance, and federal regulations under 49 C.F.R. Parts 392, 393, and 396 govern how commercial cargo must be secured and inspected before a truck leaves a loading site. A shipper or third-party loader who improperly secured the cinder blocks could also share liability.

Injured drivers and passengers in California generally have two years from the date of a crash to file a personal injury lawsuit, under Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If a public entity such as Caltrans or the CHP is later found to have contributed to the crash, through a road defect or a delayed hazard response, for example, claimants must first file an administrative claim within six months under Government Code §§ 835 and 911.2, well ahead of the two-year court deadline.

Injured in a Truck Accident on the 101 Freeway?

Big rig crashes can leave drivers with serious injuries, totaled vehicles, and mounting medical bills, even when the collision looks like a simple traffic backup on the morning news. If you were hurt in Tuesday’s crash on the 101 Freeway in Tarzana, or in any collision involving a commercial truck in California, you have a limited window to act. California law generally gives injury victims two years from the date of a crash to file a lawsuit, and that window can be shorter if a government agency shares fault. J&Y Law represents injured Californians on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Contact J&Y Law today for a free consultation to discuss your rights and deadlines.