How Did 1 Man Die and 2 Get Hurt in a 4-Vehicle Pile-Up on Highway 101 in San Jose?

What happened in San Jose?

A 36-year-old man died and two others were injured in a multi-vehicle collision on Saturday morning, 10 October 2026, on Highway 101 in San Jose, California.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the pile-up took place around 5:30 a.m. on southbound Highway 101, just north of the Tully Road off-ramp.

How the crash unfolded

CHP reported that a 36-year-old San Jose man was driving a Toyota when the car broke down in the traffic lanes. The driver got out of the vehicle and was standing outside when he and the car were both hit by a Honda and a Ford.

Debris from the collision flew into the northbound lanes and struck a Tesla.

Four vehicles were involved: a red Toyota sedan, a gray Honda Civic, a white Ford F-150 pickup truck and a white Tesla Model 3.

Who was hurt?

• A 36-year-old San Jose man, the driver of the Toyota, was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was not immediately released.
• A 39-year-old Hayward man, driving the Honda, sustained major injuries.
• A 26-year-old Los Banos man, driving the Tesla, suffered minor injuries.
• A 33-year-old San Jose man, driving the Ford, was not hurt.

The drivers of the Honda, Ford and Tesla stopped and remained at the scene after the crash. None of them was intoxicated, according to CHP.

What happened after the crash

• All southbound Highway 101 lanes remained closed for more than one hour after the collision, and motorists were diverted onto Tully Road.
• The pickup truck, the Tesla and the Honda were towed away from the scene.
• Firefighters responded shortly after receiving reports of the collision, and a coroner representative was called to the scene.
• CHP is investigating the collision.

Why a stalled car on a highway is so dangerous

A vehicle that stops in live traffic lanes leaves its occupants with almost no protection. Other drivers may not see the stopped car in time, especially in early-morning light, and anyone standing outside the vehicle is completely exposed.

If a car breaks down on a highway, the safest move is to get as far from traffic as possible, stay behind a barrier if there is one, switch on hazard lights, and call emergency services rather than standing beside the vehicle in the lanes.

Frequently asked questions

Where did the San Jose pile-up happen?

The crash happened on Saturday morning, 10 October 2026, on southbound Highway 101 just north of the Tully Road off-ramp in San Jose, California.

Who died in the San Jose crash?

A 36-year-old San Jose man, whose Toyota had broken down in the traffic lanes, died at the scene after he and his car were hit by a Honda and a Ford. His name was not immediately released.

How many people were injured?

Two people were injured: the 39-year-old Honda driver from Hayward sustained major injuries, and the 26-year-old Tesla driver from Los Banos suffered minor injuries. The Ford driver was not hurt.

Were any drivers intoxicated?

No. CHP reported that none of the Honda, Ford or Tesla drivers was intoxicated, and all three stopped and remained at the scene.