Update: 1 killed, 3 injured in crash that shut down Highway 46 in SLO County
Update, 3:34 p.m.:
One person was killed, and three others were injured in a head-on crash Sunday morning on Highway 46 West near the Highway 1 junction, according to the California Highway Patrol in Templeton.
The collision happened shortly before 9:40 a.m. when a Ford Mustang traveling eastbound drifted into the westbound lane and collided head-on with a truck towing a fifth-wheel trailer, CHP Templeton Sgt. Charlie McMichael said Sunday afternoon.
A male passenger in the Mustang was killed in the crash. The male driver sustained moderate injuries and was transported to Adventist Health Sierra Vista hospital in San Luis Obispo. Both were from Cambria.
CHP said alcohol was believed to be a factor in the collision.
The male driver of the truck suffered minor injuries. A passenger in the truck sustained moderate injuries and was also transported to Adventist Health Sierra Vista. Both occupants were from outside the area.
The crash prompted a SigAlert and closure of Highway 46 West for several hours Sunday. CHP logs indicated all lanes reopened around 1:22 p.m., and the SigAlert was canceled shortly afterward.
According to CHP dispatch logs, westbound traffic began reopening shortly before 1 p.m., while eastbound traffic resumed a short time later. Authorities also lifted a closure at Highway 1 near the scene.
The crash remained under investigation Sunday afternoon.
Original story:
A fatal head-on crash closed both directions of Highway 46 west of Paso Robles on Sunday morning, according to California Highway Patrol traffic logs.
It is unclear how many people were killed in the crash or the extent of injuries as of Sunday afternoon.
The collision was reported around 9:39 a.m. on Highway 46, approximately 5 miles east of Highway 1, according to a post by CHP Templeton on Facebook.
CHP logs indicated a white Dodge Ram towing an RV-style trailer collided head-on with a gray Ford Mustang. Both occupants of the truck exited the vehicle after the crash, according to dispatch reports.
Authorities reported the roadway was completely blocked as of 9:57 a.m. CHP issued a SigAlert at 10:52 a.m., estimating Highway 46 would remain closed for approximately two hours.
According to dispatch logs, a San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office volunteer was holding the closure at mile marker 6 as of 10:56 a.m.
CHP logs also indicated one of the vehicles was smoking, though no flames had been reported.
Cal Fire and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. A helicopter was also requested but was later cancelled, according to dispatch logs.
According to the CHP, traffic was being diverted to Highway 41 through Morro Bay. Access to Highway 101 from Highway 1 could also be made by traveling south toward San Luis Obispo.
This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 10:50 AM.