Sylmar, California - Driver Critically Injured After Crashing Into Parked Semi-Truck on 5 Freeway

Sylmar, California (August 17, 2026) - A driver was hospitalized in serious to critical condition Monday afternoon after crashing into the back of a semi-truck parked on the shoulder of the northbound 5 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The crash happened at Roxford Street, just north of the 405 Freeway split. Aerial footage showed the rear corner of the truck's trailer had pierced through the SUV's windshield on impact.

A witness told CHP the semi-truck was parked on the right shoulder when the SUV struck it from behind. Emergency crews extricated the driver and transported them to a hospital.

CHP said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. No injuries were reported for the truck driver.

The collision shut down multiple lanes of the northbound 5 Freeway and the transition to the 405 Freeway, backing up traffic for miles during the afternoon commute.

Truck Accidents in Sylmar, California

A crash into the back of a commercial truck raises questions that go beyond the other driver. Investigators look at whether the truck was legally parked, whether it displayed the reflective triangles or hazard lights federal regulations require for a stopped commercial vehicle, and whether the truck driver checked the shoulder was clear before stopping there.

• Who may be liable: the truck driver, the trucking company, or a maintenance contractor if a mechanical failure forced the stop
• What investigators examine: dash cam and event data recorder footage, whether warning devices were deployed, sightlines on that stretch of the 5 Freeway
• If fault is shared, California's pure comparative fault rule still allows recovery for the percentage of fault that belongs to someone else

Under California law, you generally have two years from the date of the crash, or until August 17, 2028, to file a personal injury claim (CCP 335.1).

Contact Our Sylmar Truck Accident Attorneys

Getting pulled from a wrecked car and rushed into surgery leaves a family scrambling for answers they don't have time to chase down themselves.

Our Los Angeles truck accident lawyers have taken commercial vehicle cases to trial and recovered more than $200 million for injured clients across Southern California.

A commercial truck's black box data and maintenance logs can be overwritten or lost within days, so preserving that record now matters.

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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.