Los Angeles, CA - Five Hospitalized After Vehicles Plunge Down 405 Freeway Embankment

Los Angeles, California (August 15, 2026) - On the southbound 405 Freeway just south of Victory Boulevard in Van Nuys, two vehicles crashed and fell about 200 feet down an embankment Saturday night, landing near Woodley Park, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash was reported at 7:03 p.m. Video from the scene showed firefighters using hydraulic tools to free a man trapped inside an overturned pickup truck. A sedan was also overturned nearby, with three women and another man found near the vehicle.

All five people were taken by ambulance to local hospitals for treatment, Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Jennifer Middleton said. Their conditions were not immediately available.

A witness told the CHP that one of the vehicles had been speeding in and out of lanes before the crash, though it was not clear which vehicle the witness meant.

All southbound lanes of the freeway reopened by 9:20 p.m.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles, California

When a witness's account does not clearly identify which driver caused a crash, that uncertainty does not have to stop an injury claim from moving forward.

• California follows a pure comparative fault rule, so an injured person can still recover damages even if they are found partially at fault, with any award reduced by their percentage of fault
• The CHP's collision report, once finalized, typically includes damage analysis and any available dashcam or nearby traffic camera footage that can clarify which vehicle was at fault
• Speeding and unsafe lane changes, if confirmed, can support a negligence claim independent of any criminal citations issued
• Each injured person's own insurance coverage, including underinsured motorist coverage, may come into play depending on the at-fault vehicle's policy limits

Under California law, personal injury claims generally must be filed within two years of the date of the crash (CCP 335.1). For this case, that deadline falls on August 15, 2028.

Contact Our California Car Accident Attorneys

Being pulled from an overturned vehicle after falling down a freeway embankment, then facing weeks of recovery and mounting medical bills, is an enormous amount to manage at once.

Christian Contreras Law has represented injured clients in multi-vehicle freeway crashes across California and recovered more than $200 million for clients to date, including cases where fault was disputed between drivers.

The CHP's collision reconstruction, witness statements, and each vehicle's onboard data are all evidence worth securing now, before memories fade and the vehicles are repaired or scrapped.

There is no cost to speak with our California car accident lawyer, and you owe us nothing unless we recover money for you.

Why Injured Clients Trust Christian Contreras Law

• $200M+ recovered for clients
• More than $30M recovered in 2025 alone
• Takes cases to trial with 7+ jury trials each year
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Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.