Update: One person has died. The helicopter has landed on the roadway. CPD is assisting with traffic control. Traffic is being turned around. The helicopter is going to Children’s Hospital in Oakland. Two ambulances are bringing two other patients to local hospitals.
Traffic Alert, 4:41pm 8/9:
Multiple vehicle collision on Ygnacio Valley Rd east of Oak Grove Rd, in Walnut Creek. Early reports of two vehicles on fire. Ygnacio Valley Rd is closed near the scene. A medical helicopter is currently inbound.
Image Credit: Patrick Suzanne Sears
No clue how the accident happened but many drivers treat Ygnacio Valley Rd. like it’s a freeway.
I’ve seen people going upwards of 70 mph. there.
Avoid the nutcases as best you can and just switch lanes to avoid them tailgating you.
Looks like 2 Teslas. Maybe they were the cars on fire.
Hopefully everyone is OK.
From the photos posted by News24/680, it looks like a jeep rear ended a Tesla which at an enormous speed. The Tesla exploded and then lit a 3rd car on fire. People are absolute morons on YVR. There’s no excuse for this tragedy, and now someone is dead, and someone’s in jail for man slaughter no doubt. So many lives ruined simply by being a selfish idiot. I hope the child airlifted is okay.
My niece and I were on Ygnacio Valley Rd., almost at Oak Grove Rd., when at least 8 police cars, a long ladder fire truck, and two ambulances passed us. We could see black smoke and so I knew something very bad had happened. I noted to my niece that most cars were NOT moving to the right to let these emergency vehicles pass. Even as we redirected onto Oak Grove Rd., four more police cars came. Then on Treat, I made a right and saw another police car coming. I moved over to let him pass me – and watched – as cars just kept driving – only one black SUV moving over. It was almost a mile before he got through!! Crazy?! My sincerest gratitude to all our emergency and service workers – especially in this heat. My condolences for the family member who passed and prayers for the child and others airlifted to hospitals. Let’s give grace and not be mean or snarky.
Let’s hope that the various emergency vehicles have a dash-cam &
can record the idiots/license plates who did not pull over and give the drivers some sort
of a fine. I realize all the sirens, flasting lights can unnerve some drivers but geez.
Ironically, I was at that intersection about an hour before this bad accident happened.
I do not relish being in that area as some really, really bad accidents happen there.
That’s not ironic; it’s just coincidental.
I was closer up past oak grove on YVR, and we all moved over as much as was possible but the amount of traffic was impossible to fully get all cars over, luckily the cleared the other direction and re-route first responders. It was a tragic scene. So sorry for all involved.
So sorry to hear this.
I had an early morning appointment at Kaiser and actually weighed the safety of YV Road vs the freeway before leaving.
I had just passed thru the light at Oak Grove to head up the hill on YVR when the traffic came to a dead stop. The 3 lanes had yet to merge and all 3 lanes were packed when within 5 minutes at least 2 or 3 fire engines, several ambulances and MANY PD cruisers tried to squeeze past the virtual parking lot of cars who literally had nowhere to go. What a mess. After sitting for about 20 minutes, we could see the life flight helicopter looking for a place to land. Finally after about 30 min, all the cars on YVR that had been heading up the hill were (presumably) told to make 3 point turns (or in many cases 5 pt turns) and head back down toward Oak Grove. We could see the plumes of smoke from the car fires, which is an absolute tragedy for the poor souls and their families. God bless all the first responders for making every possible effort to manage the situation and bring aid to those who were injured 🙏🙏🙏
I was there coming towards Walnut Creek from Clayton. When I seen the police cars blocking the hill we all just turned at Crossings and took Treat. Looks like the downhill part when it curves is where it happened. You have use extreme caution because that part of the road is really rough and you can lose control easily. Going down it at 70mph isn’t smart. This is sad and unfortunate.
Just leave your foot entirely off the gas pedal when going downhill and just use your brake to slow. Please use caution everyone!!! Tomorrow is never guaranteed.
People drive way too fast on Ygnacio, and some think they don’t have to follow any rules. I see speeding all the time. Perhaps they should have speed cameras.
There was a red VW Tiguan SUV going about 75mph weaving in and out of traffic cutting people off by mere feet westbound on YVR in that same stretch – when all the vehicles got to the red light at Oak Grove his erratic driving didn’t gain him one inch. Fortunately nothing happened like this but could have very easily.
Unfortunately, signs won’t work on the idiots who race down that road. There are signs flashing as you approach YVR and Cowell. However, during commute time, you always see people flying through the red. What we need to do is stop YVR from being a pass-through to avoid traffic on 4. Although that doesn’t sound like it would have affected this incident. I read on News 24/680 that the Prius was observed with several kids in it prior to the accident. One obviously didn’t make it. I can’t imagine getting that news. RIP and prayers to the others injured. Slow down, people, and put the phone down!
For decades, WCPD had several motor officers. I believe their presence, on both sides of YVR, saved a lot of lives. Hey Chief, why’d you cut 99% of the motor team, and how’s that workin’ for ya now?
They cut it because the Police will get in trouble if somehow the tickets written are disproportionate to a gene pool. As YVR is a shortcut to and from east county, there is a chance that could happen.
Politics over safety, and it’s been that way since 2020.
Prove it.
Prove you’re not a robot first.
Put speed cameras a long the road. Cheaper and efficient than having a motor team. Easy solution.
A ticket via speed camera is sort of like going to Europe by watching a YouTube video. It’s just not the same as the real experience.
The experience of seeing the red light, hearing the siren, and most importantly, the pucker factor, needs to be experienced for real in person.
Plus it’s an opportunity for LE to check for insurance, registration, smell of alcohol etc. A real traffic stop is much more effective.
“People who stare at accidents and impede traffic flow are often referred to as “rubberneckers.” This behavior is dangerous because it diverts attention from the road, potentially causing additional accidents. Rubbernecking can also lead to traffic congestion and delays for other drivers. “
Sounds like there were a lot of these yesterday.
i drove by like 15 accidents in the past week which is insane. People keep driving like this and they will make a dumb law that all cars made here on to be driverless soon and work just as personal taxi vehicles like waymo and others which would suck.