Woman killed in multi-car crash on Highway 101 over weekend, CHP says
A woman was killed in a multi-vehicle car crash Saturday on Highway 101 near the base of the Cuesta Grade when she was hit by another car after trying to escape the wreckage of the initial crash, the California Highway Patrol confirmed Monday.
At around 9:30 p.m., a Toyota Camry attempted to turn left onto southbound Highway 101 from Higuera Ranch, According to a CHP news release. At the same time, a 2023 Toyota Highlander was traveling northbound on the highway.
As the Camry crossed the northbound lanes, the two vehicles collided, the release said.
The Highlander traveled across the southbound lanes and stopped on the right shoulder of the highway, the release said.
The Camry sustained major damage, the CHP said, and was disabled and blacked out facing the wrong way in the No. 1 northbound lane.
An adult female passenger in the Camry opened the front passenger door and began to exit the vehicle when she was hit by a Hyundai Tucson traveling northbound at an unknown speed.
According to the CHP, the vehicle driver did not see the blacked-out Camry in the lane ahead of him.
The woman was thrown from the vehicle and landed in the southbound left turn lane at Higuera Ranch, the release said. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The CHP has not yet identfied the woman who was killed.
Five other patients — two adult drivers and three juvenile passengers — were transported to Adventist Health Sierra Vista hospital in San Luis Obispo for minor to moderate injuries, according to the release.
Several lanes of traffic were closed as emergency responders took over the scene, though the No. 2 lanes and shoulders of the highway did remain open, the CHP said.
The crash is still under investigation, and drugs and alcohol were not believed to be factors.
“The CHP, San Luis Obispo Area is heartbroken from this crash,” CHP Lieutenant James Ferguson said in the release. “We encourage everyone to look both ways, plan your day with extra time and always be aware of approaching traffic.”
This story was originally published March 30, 2026 at 2:44 PM.
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