As reported by CHP Fatal Accident Feed
Date: September 23, 2026, 10:19 p.m.
Location: Eastbound State Route 91 at northbound Interstate 710 transition, near Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, Los Angeles County
Type: Car Accident
According to California Highway Patrol dispatch logs, multiple vehicles were involved in a traffic collision on eastbound State Route 91 near the northbound Interstate 710 transition in Long Beach on the night of September 23, 2026.
Initial reports around 10:19 p.m. indicated two vehicles were involved and lanes were blocked. Subsequent log entries stated that one vehicle struck the right shoulder wall and spun out, coming to rest blocking eastbound SR-91 at the I-710 connector. Another vehicle was reported on the transition road. At one point, a reporting party told authorities that vehicles had been racing.
Additional entries later suggested a possible four-vehicle collision just west of Atlantic Avenue, with three to four lanes blocked. Long Beach Fire Department was notified and responded to the scene, and firefighters later reported they were taking over scene management.
CHP units initiated traffic breaks and requested a full closure of the eastbound SR-91 transition to northbound I-710. Traffic was diverted at Long Beach and Alameda, and the Long Beach on-ramp to eastbound SR-91 was held. The Transportation Management Center and Caltrans were advised, and Caltrans crews were dispatched to assist with closures and cleanup.
At 11:04 p.m., dispatch records show the coroner was notified in connection with the incident, indicating at least one fatality. Later log entries reference three vehicles with a fatality designation. No additional details about the person or people who died were included in the logs.
CHP requested multiple evidence tows, and three vehicles were ultimately towed from the scene. A SigAlert was issued for all lanes on eastbound SR-91, with officials estimating a closure of about an hour, though cleanup and investigation continued into the early morning.
By about 1:47 a.m. on September 24, a unit reported that the roadway was clear and all lanes were reopened. The Transportation Management Center canceled the SigAlert, and CHP closed the incident record. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, according to the dispatch entries.
Source
CHP Fatal Accident Feed · original report
This summary was prepared from that report and is not a reproduction of it.
What California law says after a car accident
Who may bring a wrongful death claim in California
When a collision results in death, California law allows specific family members to bring a wrongful death claim. The categories are defined by statute and generally include a surviving spouse or domestic partner, children, and, where there is no surviving spouse or issue, others who would be entitled to the property of the person who died. Certain dependents, including a putative spouse, stepchildren, or parents who were financially dependent, may also qualify.
A wrongful death claim compensates surviving family members for their own losses, including financial support, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of the companionship, guidance, and society the person provided.
A separate claim, called a survival action, covers losses the person themselves sustained before death, such as medical expenses and lost earnings. California law changed here. For survival actions filed on or after January 1, 2026, damages for the decedent’s own pain, suffering, or disfigurement are no longer recoverable. Cases filed before that date are not affected, and different rules can apply in elder abuse matters.
Eligibility depends on family circumstances, filing deadlines are strict, and the damages available depend in part on when a case is filed.
Reporting requirements after a California collision
California imposes reporting duties on drivers that are separate from any insurance claim.
A report must be filed with the DMV on form SR-1 within ten days of a collision that caused any injury, any death, or more than one thousand dollars in property damage to any one person. This duty applies regardless of fault, applies even when police responded and wrote their own report, and is not satisfied by notifying an insurance company. With current repair costs, most collisions that involve a body shop meet the damage threshold.
A separate rule covers collisions causing injury or death. The driver must make a written report to the California Highway Patrol, or to the city police department where the collision happened in a city, within twenty four hours. The statute states this duty for every injury or fatal collision. In practice, where officers responded and completed a report at the scene, that report generally satisfies the agency’s need, but a driver who assumes this without confirming it is relying on practice rather than on the text of the law.
Missing the DMV deadline can lead to suspension of driving privileges, an outcome unrelated to who caused the collision.
Information for Families After a Fatal Collision
Losing a family member in a collision raises urgent legal questions, often long before anyone feels ready to ask them. These guides set out the basics, with no obligation attached.
- California wrongful death attorney: who may file, the deadlines that apply, and what a claim covers
- Los Angeles car accident lawyer: fault, insurance offers, and what a claim is worth
- All practice areas
If a collision has affected your family, The Law Offices of Burg and Brock, Inc. can explain your options.
Published by The Law Offices of Burg and Brock editorial team. The incident summary was drafted with AI assistance from the cited report. Editorial and legal disclaimer.
This website is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Using this site does not form an attorney/client relationship. This site is legal advertising.
This article is general information, not legal advice.