Wrong‑Way Crash on 210 Freeway Leaves Multiple Injured and a Truck Engulfed in Flames

On Saturday evening, drivers on the westbound 210 Freeway in the San Fernando Valley were treated to a terrifying scene that would later dominate traffic reports.

At roughly 5:45 p.m., a Tesla—apparently traveling the wrong way at a dangerously high speed—hurtled into a box truck near the 118 Freeway interchange in the Lake View Terrace area. The impact was so violent the truck tipped over, spilling its load and, within moments, erupting into a towering blaze.

California Highway Patrol officers arrived quickly, declaring a SigAlert and shutting down all but one westbound lane between Osborne Street and the 118. The fire department battled the inferno, eventually bringing the flames under control, but not before the heat and smoke sent shivers down the spines of onlookers.

Four people were pulled from the wreckage and taken to nearby hospitals for assessment and treatment. Video shared on the Citizen App shows one victim with deep lacerations to an arm and hand, while another is seen being loaded into an ambulance. The severity of the injuries prompted doctors to keep the patients under observation, though none were reported as critical at the time of writing.

Adding to the chaos, a second collision involving additional vehicles was reported shortly after the initial crash, further complicating the rescue effort. Responders worked methodically, clearing debris, extinguishing the fire and directing traffic.

By 10:35 p.m., CHP lifted the SigAlert and reopened all westbound lanes, allowing traffic to flow once again after nearly five hours of snarled commutes. The freeway, which had been a bottleneck for commuters heading home, finally eased back to normal speeds.

Authorities are still investigating why the Tesla was traveling in the opposite direction. Early speculation points to driver error or a possible vehicle malfunction, but officials have not released a definitive cause.

This story is still developing. Stay tuned for updates as investigators piece together the events that led to one of the most dramatic crashes on the 210 this year.