Fire erupts off Highway 101 in SLO County after speeding car crashes into tree
A multi-vehicle crash involving a speeding car started a fire off Highway 101 in Nipomo on Friday afternoon.
One vehicle was reported to be driving around 110 mph and veering across the roadway just after 1 p.m. Friday, California Highway Patrol spokesperson Dave Reed told The Tribune.
Around 1:08 p.m., the car crashed into a eucalyptus tree near Highway 101 and the Tefft Street offramp, clipping other vehicles in the process, Reed said.
After the scene was cleared following the crash, the vehicle caught fire, Reed said.
As of 2 p.m., crews were responding to the fire, according to CHP. The fire was holding at one-eighth of an acre as of 2:30 p.m., according to emergency radio traffic.
The driver of the vehicle was transported to the hospital by ambulance, Reed said. The extent of the injuries were not available at the time.
The circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation, according to CHP.
The fire slowed traffic on both southbound and northbound lanes of the highway Friday afternoon, according to the Caltrans QuickMap.
Cal Fire shared on X around 3:30 p.m. that crews would be at the scene for the next couple of hours. The agency encouraged drivers to avoid the area.
This story was originally published September 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the number of fires. The vehicle caught fire once after crews cleared the scene.
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