Inclement Weather Causes 20-Vehicle Pile Up; Multiple Injuries in Yucaipa

YUCAIPA (February 23, 2023) – At least eight people were reported injured in a crash involving up to 20 vehicles on Interstate 10 Freeway in Yucaipa, in San Bernardino County, late Wednesday night.

According to reports from CBS News, the accident occurred on the westbound I-10 at Wildwood Canyon Road just before 10:30 p.m. and involved as many as 20 vehicles, including several tractor-trailers. As a result of the accident, the freeway was closed in both directions until 1 a.m. In addition, the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway were also closed because of the accident.

ABC News reported several people were hospitalized with unknown injuries due to the accident, which authorities said resulted from winter conditions. Witnesses said icy slush was visible on the roadway at the time of the accident.

Bad Weather Blamed in 20-Car Crash

CHP Officer Jonathan Gruidl told CBS that the inclement weather came out of nowhere and caught drivers unexpectedly. One crash led to another, and a chain reaction ensued.

Officials warned drivers to proceed cautiously throughout the day on Thursday and into the night, warning them to stay home if possible as unusual winter weather systems moved across Southern California.

There was another chain-reaction motor vehicle crash Wednesday night on Highway 189 near Crestline, ABC also reported. Due to that accident, more than a dozen vehicles were piled up on the snow-covered roadway, blocking traffic for more than four hours.

All these accidents came on the heels of what was expected to be even more severe weather conditions throughout the region, with a blizzard warning planned to go into effect at 4 a.m. on Friday. It is the first blizzard warning issued for the Los Angeles County mountains since 1989.